ABERDEEN-L Archives

From: Fiona <>
Subject: Re:[ABERDEEN]Mr vs. Esq
Date: Thu, 03 Jan 2002 17:15:53 -0800
In-Reply-To: <3C32DBD1.4F4FFA51@which.net>

At 10:07 AM 1/2/2002 +0000, Gavin Bell wrote:
>Sue wrote:
>
> >
> > ... Charles Grassick Esq, Buchaam; Mr James Grassick, Coul;
> > Patrick Grassick Esq, Littlewood (??) Park; John Grassick, Fogggymill;
> > and Mr Donald Grassick, Easter Chapelton. So why the distinction
> > between Mr and Esq?
>
>Of the explanations offered so far, I think the most plausible is
>Carol's:
>"... that Esquire meant the senior person in the family with the same
>name."

When I worked for solicitors several years ago, I was taught that "Esq" was
for a professional person - ie, a gentleman. Therefore, you had John
Smith, Esq., a solicitor; William Brown, Esq, Barrister, or an accountant,
Henry Thomson, Esq. Joe Bloggs who delivers the milk and his brother Fred
the bricklayer were plain Mr. Very much a class or professional
distinction. This was Australian usage in the mid-1970s through the 1980s.

Fiona Brown
Researching Strathearn, Hadden, Gove
Aberdeen mid-late 1800s.

This thread:

• Re:[ABERDEEN]Mr vs. Esq by Gavin Bell <>

  • Re:[ABERDEEN]Mr vs. Esq by Fiona <>