What Does Esquire Mean?

Esq. the abbreviation of Esquire originated as a term that was applicable for a social rank title that was given to one who was above the gentleman. For example, it was a title given to of the nobles and the gentry who did not have any other title. In other words, a gentleman would generally be designated as Mr., but an Esquire would be designated 'Esq.' in old fashioned "Esq." seemed to be very applicable among upper-class circles.

In the United Kingdom it was a definition, which was attempted in shaping who was at liberty to the rank of "Esquire", as divergent to the rank of "Gentleman". The common examples of the titles given are Sheriffs while in office, Justices of the Peace while in commission, Commissioners of the Court of Bankruptcy, Masters of the Supreme Court,
Deputy Lieutenants and Commissioners of Lieutenancy, Queen's Counsel, Serjeants-at-law, Royal Academicians, to name a few.

The simple answer is that historically Esquire denoted the right to bear arms. In many historical documents, especially ecclesiastical ones prior to about 1730, the entries were in Latin and the designation "Armiger(us)" indicated such a right. English translations and, latterly, original documents replaced Arm with Esq. However, its later use was rather broader and these days people tend to use it indiscriminately even to the extent of committing the cardinal sin of writing eg Mr John Smith Esq - a sure sign of social illiteracy!