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I've found several relatives listed as Squire, such as Squire John Smith. Some are here in USA, most go back to Germany. Why would a person be called squire?
I've found several relatives listed as Squire, such as Squire John Smith. Some are here in USA, most go back to Germany. Why would a person be called squire?
My grandfather's actual name was Squire but I don't know where it came from. It wasn't handed down from another family member although there WERE a few Squires in the family after him. Mostly nephews. Are you sure this isn't their name? His middle initial was C and I don't know what that stood for either!
Thanks for the link, but I was thinking perhaps Squire was some sort of geneaological term. No one in my grandfather's family fit any of the definitions in your site, but thanks for looking!
My grandfather's actual name was Squire but I don't know where it came from. It wasn't handed down from another family member although there WERE a few Squires in the family after him. Mostly nephews. Are you sure this isn't their name? His middle initial was C and I don't know what that stood for either!
Well, it appeared his name was Squire, or it was some sort of title. Then, upon looking at other sources that were a bit more legible, it appears his name was Squire W......strange! He certainly wasn't an attorney, he was a blacksmith! Maybe Squire was some sort of title for blacksmith? Ok, according to the definition above, sometimes squires were servants of sorts to Knights, etc. Well, perhaps that extended down to blacksmiths?
Ok, in my family's case, it appears to be a title of sorts. Going back 5 generations, it appears they always named the first-born son Squire, then first and last name. It even appears as such on death certificates. I can only assume it has something to do with inheritance.
I think it most likely was just a title of respect. Not really a name. And the son who inherited the title probably became the "Squire." I have thought of it as a title given to a prosperous landowner who was not a titled lord, like a "duke' or "earl."
It would help to know the context in which you found it.
I think it most likely was just a title of respect. Not really a name. And the son who inherited the title probably became the "Squire." I have thought of it as a title given to a prosperous landowner who was not a titled lord, like a "duke' or "earl."
It would help to know the context in which you found it.
Well, it just always went with the name.I find it in census, death certificates, other family trees, etc. Perhaps long ago an ancestor was actually a squire, and the title passed down. I can trace back to Germany, then, the line just drops out. Perhaps, like you suggest, simply a title of respect. so, my grandfather would have been Squire Grandpa?
The reason I asked about context is because it could be a name.
It would be fun to see if any of your "squires" were in the Burke book. You can search it on ancestry.com!
"About Burke's Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland
This database details information found in John Burke’s history of landed gentry or commoners of Great Britain and Ireland, printed in 1837 and 1838. The work includes information about those persons who owned land or held high official rank, but were not considered nobility. Biographies often contain information about names, places, dates of vital events such as birth, marriage and death, occupations, and occasionally, an achievement of a coat of arms."
"SQUIRE (Ger. Gutsherr, Junker; Ir. Scuibheir; Ital. Scudiero; Port. Morgado; Sp. Escudero) Usually this refers to the servant of a knight, a young person of roughly 14 to 21 who is learning the business of being a knight. It, and similar terms in other languages have been applied to landed gentry, owners of large estates who do not hold patents of nobility. The term derives ultimately to a phrase (Esquyer, Escutier) in Anglo-Norman meaning 'Shieldbearer', and a variant of that has also remained in the language: Esquire."
Well, it appeared his name was Squire, or it was some sort of title. Then, upon looking at other sources that were a bit more legible, it appears his name was Squire W......strange! He certainly wasn't an attorney, he was a blacksmith! Maybe Squire was some sort of title for blacksmith? Ok, according to the definition above, sometimes squires were servants of sorts to Knights, etc. Well, perhaps that extended down to blacksmiths?
My grandad, Squire, was a farmer all his life. I don't know where the name came from for sure but likely from my great grandma's side of the family, the Rileys. I know there was at least one Squire Riley. You are correct that back in the Medieval (sp) days there were squires that attended the knights, took care of their horses, etc.. Maybe my great grandma had high hopes for my grandad??
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