How and when would you use the word "esquire" after someone's name?

Question

Or even just the abbreviation "Esq.". I've seen it on some formal letters but not all formal letters have them.

Answer 1

It did at one time show a respect to the person to whom you were writing but it has largely fallen into disuse. This is mainly due to the more friendly approach in business these days. For example people in business quickly get onto first name terms and establish a different relationship now when meeting customers or suppliers etc.
For the record though if you address a letter to Mr A Bloggs then you did not put esquire. You could put esquire after the name only when written as A Bloggs. It then becomes A Bloggs Esq The Mr is left out.

Answer 2

Esquire (abbreviated Esq.) originally was a social rank title above that of mere gentleman, allowed, for example, to the sons of the nobles and the gentry who did not possess any other title. On this basis, a gentleman was designated Mr ('mister' before his name), whereas an Esquire was designated 'Esq.' (without a nominal prefix) after his name. A very late example of this distinction is 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 designated "Esquire" — of higher social position; though old-fashioned, "Esq." remains widely used in upper-class circles.

Answer 3

I think esquire is used when addressing a gentleman, i.e. John Smith Esq., Instead of using Mr. it is more formal to use Esq.

I think this goes back to old times when more letter writing was the norm among the educated classes and gentlemen were gentlemen.

This is what I think.

Answer 4

The only person to get this right is Clive H so far.
Mr., is a modern way of addressing a man these days compared with the rather old fashioned Esquire or Esq., which used to denote a land or property owner.
My father aged 87 still prefers to be addressed this way and I have to remember this when sending him correspondence, birthday or Christmas cards. It is rather outdated but still technically or grammatically correct but is nothing to do with Lords and Ladies or the landed gentry.

Answer 5

Seems everyone has got this right there is NO way Esq is ever used for a lady, it is sad that in the UK we do not tend to keep the things (as little as they may be) such as this alive as its part of our heritage, it is NOT correct to address a male using Mr then a full given name .. it should be Mr J Smith not Mr John Smith or simply use John Smith.
In addition a person should never refer to themselves as, for example, Mr John Smith as a way of signing off (say) a letter / memo etc etc. It should be simply J Smith. However for a lady it is correct for a lady to show Mrs, Miss , Ms. It is also correct for a title to be used e.g. Lord, Sir, Lady, Baroness, Dr etc.
Finally no one should ever introduce themselves using any form of title. "Hello I'm John Smith" is the correct way.

Answer 6

Many moons ago, when I was a kid, all letters were addressed to either Mr or Master, depending on your age. Esquire was added after the name, ie. Mr John Smith, Esq.,
You would only use this in written matter. You would not say "Hello Mr Smith Esquire".
But just as the calling of every grown-up as Mister X has dropped out of use, so has Esquire.
It is only a matter of time before the Mister is dropped from the address on mail. In fact, some of the big Multinationals have already stopped using it.
(And just for info, the title Ms evolved at the time of women's lib so as not to obviate between a married and a single woman. It is now largely used by divorced women to indicate they have been married, but are now separated or single again.)

Answer 7

A very dated form of address, which I suppose could be used when approaching, or writing to a titled person in Great Britain. There are some people, who will address a stranger with perhaps the words, 'Good afternoon squire, good weather we're having then!' Strange I know, but that's part of the UK's rich Tapestry of Life!

Answer 8

I won't go in to all the details about how the difference between Squire and Esquire came about in the times of the Knights! Oh, maybe I will!

The squire was the 'lad' of the 'man with a position.' That position could be owning land or being a 'low peer.' In fact, you would have to be respected by the gentry (but more particularly, the monarch) in those days.

Esquire simply means 'with squire' which simply meant that the man was in a high enough position to have a 'lad' to 'do his stuff' for him. It probably meant that he owned property (bearing in mind his consideration with the monarch) and he might well have been a lawyer - but his claim to fame was that he had a squire who would usually do his fighting for him.

Answer 9

Hi K -2 As Follows --- John Smith Esq.

Answer 10

It depends on which country you're in. In the US, "Esq" or "Esquire" is used for lawyers but in the UK it's an old fashioned way of saying "Mister"