squire

In feudal times a squire was a man-at-arms in the service of a knight, often as his apprentice. In later years, the term's meaning shifted.

Medieval usage

The English word squire comes from the Old French escuier (modern French écuyer), itself derived from the Late Latin scutarius ("shield bearer"). The Classical Latin equivalent was armiger, 'arms bearer'.

A squire was originally a young man who aspired to the rank of knighthood and who, as part of his development to that end, served an existing knight as his attendant or shield carrier. However, during the middle ages the rank of esquire came to be recognized in its own right and, once knighthood ceased to be conferred by any but the monarch, it was no longer to be assumed that a squire would in due course progress to be a knight. The connection between a squire and any particular knight also ceased to exist, as did any shield carrying duties.

Later usage

The term "esquire"

Main article: esquire

In the post-mediaeval world, the title of "esquire" came to belong to all men of the higher gentry; an esquire ranked socially above a gentleman but below a knight. In the modern world, where all men are assumed to be gentleman, the term has correspondingly often been extended (albeit only in very formal writing) to all men without any higher title. It is used postnomially, usually in abbreviated form — "Thomas Smith, Esq.", for example.

In the United States, this style is most common among attorneys, borrowing from the English tradition whereby all barristers-at-law were styled Esquires. (Solicitors were only entitled to the style "Mr".)

Village squire

In English village life from the late 17th century through the early 20th century, there was often one principal family of gentry, owning much of the land and living in the big house. The head of this family was often called "the squire."

Squires were gentlemen with a coat of arms and were often related to peers. Many could claim descent from knights and had been settled in their estates for hundreds of years. The squire usually lived at the village manor house, and owned an estate comprising the village with the villagers being his tenants. If the squire owned the living (was patron) of the parish church—and he often was— he would choose the rector, a role often be filled by a younger son of the squire. Some squires also became the local rector themselves and were known as squarsons - a combination of the words squire and parson. The squire would also have performed a number of important local duties in particular that of justice of the peace or MP. Politically, during the 19th century squires tended to be Tories whereas the greatest landlords tended to be Whigs.

The position of squire was traditionally associated with occupation of the manor house which would often itself confer the dignity of squire. It is unclear how widely the village squire may still be said to survive today; but where it does, the role is likely more dependent upon a recognition of good manners, lineage and long family association rather than land, which, while relevant, is nowadays likely to be considerably smaller than in former years due to high post-war death duties and the prohibitive costs associated with maintaining large country houses.

In Scotland, whilst Esquires and Gentleman are technically correctly used at the Court of the Lord Lyon, the title Laird, in place of Squire, is more common. Moreover, in Scotland Lairds append their territorial designation to their names as was traditionally done on the continent of Europe (e.g. Donald Cameron of Lochiel). The territorial designation fell into disuse in England early on, save for peers of the realm.

Squires in literature

The most famous squire, albeit as a caricature, in world literature is probably the babbling Sancho Panza.

In English literature, people usually remember Squire Trelawney, one of the many literary creations of Robert Louis Stevenson, a Cornish squire who protects young Jim Hawkins from the murderous pirates who are seeking his treasure map, and helps him engage a crew to sail to Treasure Island.

Thackeray's depiction of a squire in Vanity Fair showed the class to be lecherous, ill-educated, badly mannered relics of an earlier age. However, he clearly shows their control of the life of the parish.

Also, King Arthur in the Sword And The Stone was Sir Kay's squire as a boy. Another Squire in literature is Squire Hamley in Elizabeth Gaskell's Wives and Daughters. There are numerous other squires in English literature. also squire in The Canterbury Tales

See also

• Esquire

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