Ranks of Nobility

[Bethanys Gran]

If someone born in 1650 was entitled to use the rank of Esquire, does anyone know what rank his father would be? Would he also be Esquire?

I've tried Googling, but without much clarification!!!

Any help would be gratefully received!

[Olde Crone Holden]

Bethanys Gran

Esquire wasn't really a nobility rank. It is just an indicator that he wasn't a poor ag lab!

Esquire was still in common usage in my young days as a courtesy title when writing to people you did not personally know.

OC

[Bethanys Gran]

Thanks for that OC. I knew it was just a mark of someone a bit 'posher' than my family!! LOL

I just thought that back in the 17th century that it was an actual rank of someone who had rendered service to a knight.

Thanks for putting me straight!

[Olde Crone Holden]

Yes, it could be but I have a number of landed gentry referred to as Esquires and they certainly weren't nobility.

OC

[Just Barbara]

Your esquire was probably the principle landowner in an area.

[Bethanys Gran]

Many thanks - just wish I was a bit posher, then I'd know these things!! LOL

[Bo the Bodger]

As I understand one of the uses of Esquire used at the end of the name e.g Eversfield Pigott Esq was to show that they went to Oxbridge.

However there is a good definition at Esquire - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Guy]

Esquire was/is the lowest rank in the order of precedence
see
prec
Cheers
Guy

[Little Nell]

My Dad, a humble bus conductor, regularly got letters from officialdom addressed

W.F.R. Gray, Esq.

[Penelope]

Redacted