EsquireEsquire (abbreviated Esq.) was originally a social rank above that of meregentleman, allowed, for example, to the sons ofnobles and gentry who did not possess any other title. Agentleman, 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". But even then this was somewhat old-fashioned.In theUnited States, there are no titled gentry or nobility, but the suffix "Esq." is commonly used to indicate that an individual is alawyer, albeit not exclusively as there are no legal restrictions on the use of this suffix in the United States. This is a remnant of the United Kingdom practice, in whichbarristers claimed the status of Esquire andsolicitors used the term "gentleman." In the United States, these separate roles of legal counsel have been combined.United KingdomIn theUnited Kingdom (and, before theAct 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.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 ofknights and their eldest sons in perpetual succession The eldest sons of younger sons ofpeers and their eldest sons in perpetual succession Those who bear special office in theRoyal Household Sheriffs while in office.Justices of the Peace while in commission Commissioners of theCourt of Bankruptcy Masters of theSupreme CourtDeputy Lieutenants and Commissioners of LieutenancyQueen's CounselSerjeants-at-law (of whom none have been appointed since the 19th century)Royal AcademiciansOfficers of theRoyal Navy with rank ofLieutenant or higher, of theArmy with rank ofCaptain 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 use of Esquire (as