What Does Esq Mean?

When there is an Esq. at the end of a person's name it is an abbreviation for the term Esquire. This term has been used since the 14th century. Way back then it was mostly used as a title for nobility, today the term is most often seen in the legal section of the yellow pages.

The origins of the word esquire link back to Middle English, Latin and Anglo-French. The archaic use of the term esquire is defined as "a landed proprietor" according to Webster. The term Esquire has been around for a long time. First seen in use at the end of a name when someone sought knighthood. All of the people who were looking to be knighted were male. When colonial America came into being the term was slipped into a name for a judge or justice of the peace. Lawyers would take up the term for use quickly after that.

These jobs were an all male review. At that time no women could practice law or be a judge or justice of the peace. It wasn't until the first women's rights movement came about that the term went into an abyss for the most part. Esquire is seen less and less today. There is a popular gentleman's magazine that details the latest styles, hints on a lady love and much more. Esquire gives details and know-how on a man's life. The magazine even has a "Sexiest women" section once a year. The top of the list seems to be Angeline Jolie.

Even though the title was, at one time, given to nobility under the status of knight; it can still be seen every now and then on the marquee or advertisement of a lawyer. Usually, this term is used if the lawyer has been practicing for some time and is given to the practitioners by themselves and not by a higher power. Esquire is now used infrequently and is thought to be an outdated term by most people.