Esquire (abbreviated Esq.) was originally a social rank above that of mere gentleman, allowed, for example, to the sons of nobles and gentry who did not possess any other title. A gentleman, on this basis, was designated Mr (before his name) whereas an Esquire was so designated (with no prefix before the name) after his name. A very late example of this distinction can be seen in the list of subscribers to The History of Elton by the Rev. Rose Fuller Whistler, published in 1882, which clearly distinguishes between subscribers designated "Mr" and those, of higher social position, designated "Esquire". Although somewhat old-fashioned, "Esq." is still widely used in upper class circles. The term gentleman (from Latin gentilis, belonging to a race or gens, and man, cognate with the French word gentilhomme, the Spanish gentilhombre, and the Italian gentil uomo or gentiluomo), in its original and strict signification, denoted a man of good family, the Latin generosus (its invariable translation in English... The Lords and Barons prove their Nobility by hanging their Banners and exposing their Coats-of-arms at the door of the Lodge of the Heralds. ... Gentry is a term meaning one thing in the UK: landed gentry. ... The term gentleman (from Latin gentilis, belonging to a race or gens, and man, cognate with the French word gentilhomme, the Spanish gentilhombre, and the Italian gentil uomo or gentiluomo), in its original and strict signification, denoted a man of good family, the Latin generosus (its invariable translation in English... Mr. ...

In the United States, there are no titled gentry or nobility. The suffix "Esq." has no legal meaning, and may in theory be adopted by anyone (at least, given the meaning, any male). In practice, it is used almost exclusively by lawyers, and so it may generally be assumed when it appears on business cards or stationery to indicate that the person is a member of the bar (in this context, its use by women in the U.S. is not unknown).

That "esquire" may be used to indicate that an individual is a lawyer is a remnant of the British practice, in which barristers claimed the status of Esquire and solicitors used the term "gentleman". In the United States, though a lawyer may choose to specialize in litigation or other types of law, there are no licensing or bar membership ditinctions between the equiavelent roles of barrister and solicitor. English barrister 16th century painting of a civil law notary, by Flemish painter Quentin Massys. ... English barrister A barrister is a lawyer found in most common law jurisdictions who principally, but not exclusively, represents litigants as their advocate before the courts of that jurisdiction. ... A solicitor is a type of lawyer in many common law jurisdictions, such as the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Republic of Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, but not the United States or Canada (in the United States the word has a quite different meaning—see below). ...

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom (and, before the Act of Union, in England), tables of precedence were from time to time drawn up and they invariably ended, for men, with the ranks of Esquire and Gentleman in that order. Act of Union can mean: United Kingdom The Act of Union is a name given to several acts passed by the English, Scottish and British Parliaments from 1536 onwards. ...

From time to time, attempts were made formally to define those entitled to the rank of Esquire, as opposed to Gentleman. A typical definition is as follows:

• The eldest sons of knights and their eldest sons in perpetual succession
• The eldest sons of younger sons of peers and their eldest sons in perpetual succession
• Those who bear special office in the Royal Household
• Sheriffs while in office.
• Justices of the Peace while in commission
• Commissioners of the Court of Bankruptcy
• Masters of the Supreme Court
• Deputy Lieutenants and Commissioners of Lieutenancy
• Queen's Counsel
• Serjeants-at-law (of whom none have been appointed since the 19th century)
• Royal Academicians
• Officers of the Royal Navy with rank of Lieutenant or higher, of the Army with rank of Captain or higher, or of the Royal Air Force with rank of Flight Lieutenant or higher
• Bachelors of Divinity, Law, or Physic, and others (note that these were all traditionally post-graduate degrees, not first degrees).
• Persons to whom the title is granted by the Monarch

However, formal definitions such as these were proposed because there was, in reality, no fixed criterion distinguishing those designated "Esquire": it was essentially a matter of impression as to whether a person qualified for this status. William Segar, Garter King of Arms (the senior officer of arms at the College of Arms), wrote in 1602: "And who so can make proofe, that his Ancestors or himselfe, haue had Armes, or can procure them by purchase, may be called Armiger or Esquier." Honor military, and ciuill (1602; lib. 4, cap. 15, p. 228). The silver Anglia knight, commissioned as a trophy in 1850, intended to represent the Black Prince. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... This article describes the British monarchy from the perspective of the United Kingdom. ... Sheriff is both a political and a legal office held under English common law, Scots law or U.S. common law, or the person who holds such office. ... A Justice of the Peace (JP) is an inferior magistrate appointed by means of a commission of the peace (mandate) to keep the peace. ... Schematic of court system for England and Wales The United Kingdom does not have a single unified judicial system—England and Wales have one system, Scotland another, and Northern Ireland a third. ... Schematic of court system for England and Wales The United Kingdom does not have a single unified judicial system—England and Wales have one system, Scotland another, and Northern Ireland a third. ... Flag of a Lord Lieutenant The title Lord Lieutenant is given to the British monarchs personal representatives around the United Kingdom, usually in a county or similar circumscription, with varying tasks throughout history. ... Cherie Booth QC wearing her ceremonial robes (including full-bottomed wig) as Queens Counsel at the Bar of England and Wales. ... Serjeant-at-law is an obsolete order of barristers at the English or Irish bar. ... This article refers to an art institution in London. ... An officer is a member of a military service who holds a position of responsibility. ... The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the senior service of the British armed services, being the oldest of its three branches. ... Lieutenant is a military, paramilitary, fire service or police officer rank. ... The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ... This article concerns the rank and title of Captain. ... The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the air force branch of the British Armed Forces. ... A Flight Lieutenants sleeve/shoulder insignia Flight Lieutenant (abbreviated as Flt Lt and pronounced as flight lef-tenant, see Lieutenant) is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... Divinity has a number of related uses in the field of religious belief and study. ... See also Wikipedias Law Portal. ... This article is about the field of medical practice and health care. ... This article describes the British monarchy from the perspective of the United Kingdom. ... The Colleges own coat of arms was granted in 1484. ... Dr. Conrad Swan, while York Herald, one of thirteen officers of arms at the College of Arms. ... The Colleges own coat of arms was granted in 1484. ...

The use of Esquire (as Esq.) had become ubiquitous in the United Kingdom by the late 20th century, for example being applied by banks to all men who did not have a grander title. Although the College of Arms continues to restrict use of the word Esquire in official grants of arms to some (not even all) of those in the table above, it uses the term Esquire in all its correspondence, even to those who do not fall within any of the definitions in the table. Many people in the United Kingdom no longer appreciate that there is any distinction between "Mr" and "Esquire" at all and so, for practical purposes and in everyday usage, there is no such distinction. (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999 in the... The Colleges own coat of arms was granted in 1484. ...

United States

When the title "Esq." is used as a suffix in the United States, it is usually used to designate individuals who are licensed to practice law in at least one United States jurisdiction. It is used less commonly for individuals who have earned law degrees — such as a Juris Doctor (J.D.) or Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) — but who do not currently practice law or who have never been licensed to practice law, and for students who are still pursuing their law degrees (as they are considered members of the legal profession). However, there is no formal meaning associated with the use of this suffix, and there is no official body that polices the use of this title by American lawyers. Juris Doctor (J.D.) is a first degree in law offered by universities in a number of countries, most notably the United States. ... The degree of Bachelor of Laws (or Baccalaureate of Laws) is the principal academic degree in law in most common law countries other than the United States, where it has been replaced by the Juris Doctor degree. ...

As a matter of custom, the suffix "Esq." is not used when referring to sitting judges who are "members of the bench" rather than "members of the bar" and are prohibited from practicing law in most United States jurisdictions. Conversely, practicing lawyers frequently act as judges pro tem in various United States jurisdictions, and when said lawyers are not sitting as judicial officers, there is no reason why they would not be referred to using the "Esq." suffix. A judge or justice is an official who presides over a court. ...

The suffix "Esq." originally applied only to men. However, since the 1970s it has been adopted by attorneys at law of both genders in the United States.

According to legal usage expert Bryan Garner (A Dictionary of Modern Legal Usage, 2d ed.), "Esq." is to be placed after an attorney's name by another person, but never to be appended by the attorney himself or herself. Thus, one attorney writing to another would address the letter's recipient as "Jane Brown, Esq." but would sign himself as "John Smith."