Holding steady.
Popularity of Squire since 1880
Babies named Squire per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1918, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Squire's real moment was 1880.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 87 |
| 1890s | 43 |
| 1900s | 5 |
| 1910s | 82 |
| 1920s | 78 |
| 1930s | 66 |
| 1940s | 55 |
| 1950s | 29 |
| 1960s | 17 |
| 1970s | 33 |
| 1980s | 11 |
| 1990s | 5 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Squire is a rare given name with deep English roots. It first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1880, the same year as its peak, and has maintained a stable but very low level of usage ever since. The name is derived from the Old French 'escuyer,' meaning 'shield-bearer,' and historically denoted a young man of noble birth serving a knight. Though it never ranked in the top 1000, it has been used sporadically across the country. No state has recorded enough births for Squire to appear in its top-name lists, reflecting its status as an uncommon choice. Its most notable bearer in recent memory is Squire Boone, an American pioneer and brother of Daniel Boone, though the name's association with English gentry persists.
Squire is an English occupational surname and given name derived from the Middle English 'squyer,' itself from Old French 'escuyer' meaning 'shield-bearer' or 'esquire.' Historically, it referred to a young man of noble birth who served as an attendant to a knight before becoming one himself. By the 19th century, it was used as a title for a country gentleman or landowner, and occasionally as a given name, especially in the United States.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Esquire
Sibling names for Squire
Names that share Squire's style, for a brother or sister.
