Dear Matthew Alice: What does Esquire mean after someone’s name? How do you get one? Can I get one? Why is it always a man’s name? I’ve never seen a woman’s name followed by Esquire. Why do all the Esquires seem to be attorneys? — Late Night on the Net in UC
If you really want one, go for it. “Esquire” is an affectation that attorneys adopt, but it’s pretty much free for the taking these days. It weaseled its way into the hierarchy of the legal profession in olde England, where an esquire was originally a knight’s assistant. Here and now, it’s a puffy, self-bestowed honorific. There’s no Esquire license or professional exam. You don’t have to carry anybody’s lance and shield into battle. It was originally used by men, and I guess women figure they can keep it.
Dear Matthew Alice: What does Esquire mean after someone’s name? How do you get one? Can I get one? Why is it always a man’s name? I’ve never seen a woman’s name followed by Esquire. Why do all the Esquires seem to be attorneys? — Late Night on the Net in UC
If you really want one, go for it. “Esquire” is an affectation that attorneys adopt, but it’s pretty much free for the taking these days. It weaseled its way into the hierarchy of the legal profession in olde England, where an esquire was originally a knight’s assistant. Here and now, it’s a puffy, self-bestowed honorific. There’s no Esquire license or professional exam. You don’t have to carry anybody’s lance and shield into battle. It was originally used by men, and I guess women figure they can keep it.
Comments