SQUIRES
Squires is a surname of English origin that traces its roots to the medieval term squire, denoting a young nobleman or knight‑in‑training. It was originally adopted as a nickname or occupation for an attendant who assisted a knight, and gradually became hereditary, passing through the hands of successive generations.
The name entered England following the Norman Conquest of 1066 as a status name. Its derivation is from the Old French words escuyer or escuier, found in Middle English as squyer, and ultimately from the Latin scutanius, a derivative of scutum, meaning shield. By sixteenth–seventeenth‑century usage, the term had expanded from a young attendant to a general marker of social status, and by the seventeenth century it was applied to members of the landed gentry.
In the early medieval period the surname was associated with the chivalric traditions of the Middle Ages. Those who bore it were perceived as connected with the noble class, reflecting both their attendant role and the emerging social hierarchy of the period.
Variants of the surname include Squier, Swire and Swyer. Patronymic forms such as Squires, Squeers, Swires and Swiers arose from the construction “son of Squire.” These variations are found throughout England, particularly within the British Isles.
The first recorded spelling of the family name appears as Alword le Scuir in the year range 1100 to 1130, noted in the Old English Bynames of Devonshire during the reign of King Henry I, who is historically referred to as “the Lion of Justice.” This early instance confirms the surname's presence within English society shortly after the Norman conquest.
A historical marriage record attests to the surname’s continued use into the seventeenth century: Elizabeth Squires married John Gibbs on the 1st of June, 1684, at St. James's Church in Dukes Place, London. This reference demonstrates the surname’s integration into the social fabric of England during that era.
Typical given names associated with the Squires surname
Male
- Andrew
- Anthony
- David
- James
- John
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Richard
- Stephen
Female
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Julie
- Lisa
- Margaret
- Mary
- Patricia
- Rachel
- Rebecca
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Squires in...
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Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Squires are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Chocolate Hobnob.
There are approximately 9,032 people named Squires in the UK. That makes it roughly the 1,047th most common surname in Britain. Around 139 in a million people in Britain are named Squires.
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Squires
- Dorothy Squires - Singer (1915 to 1998)
- Hayley Squires - Actress and playwright
- David Squires -
- Peter Squires - County cricketer and international rugby union player
- Jamie Squires - Football player
- Rosemary Squires -
- Stan Squires - Cricketer (1909 to 1950)
- Ernest Squires - Army general (1882 to 1940)
- William Squires - Cricketer
- Frank Squires - Football player (1921 to 1)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.