Find out how popular the last name Squire is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Squire.

Squire, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Squire surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Squire in America

Squire is the 6363rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Squire surname appeared 5,349 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Squire.

We can also compare 2010 data for Squire to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Squire

The surname Squire originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "esquire," which meant an attendant to a knight or a young man who aspired to the rank of knighthood. The earliest recorded use of the surname Squire dates back to the 13th century.

Squire was an occupational surname given to individuals who served as esquires or attendants to knights. These individuals often came from wealthy families and were trained in the art of warfare and chivalry. The name suggests a connection to the aristocracy and the feudal system that existed in medieval England.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Squire appears in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a man named William le Squier is mentioned. The prefix "le" was commonly used in Norman French surnames to indicate a person's occupation or distinguishing characteristic.

In the 14th century, the surname Squire can be found in various historical records, such as the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379, which lists a John Squyer. The name also appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327, where a John le Squyer is recorded.

During the 15th century, the surname Squire began to be associated with specific locations. For example, the surname Squire of Stoke Poges in Buckinghamshire can be traced back to the late 15th century. This branch of the Squire family held land and property in the area.

One notable figure bearing the surname Squire was Samuel Squire (1714-1766), an English clergyman and author who wrote "An Enquiry into the Nature of the English Constitution." Another prominent individual was Leonard Squire (1673-1742), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Middlesex.

In the 17th century, the surname Squire was also found in other parts of England. For instance, John Squire (1610-1678) was an English politician and landowner from Nottinghamshire. Additionally, the Squire family of Wiltshire can be traced back to the late 16th century, with records showing a Thomas Squire residing in the area.

Other notable individuals with the surname Squire include Sir John Squire (1610-1707), an English politician and landowner from Lincolnshire, and Edward Squire (1807-1864), a British engraver and sculptor known for his work on the Albert Memorial in London.

Throughout its history, the surname Squire has maintained its connection to nobility, land ownership, and the feudal system of medieval England. While the occupation of an esquire may have evolved over time, the surname Squire remains a testament to the influential role these individuals played in the past.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Squire

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Squire.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Squire was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Squire has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Squire was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Squire, please contact us.

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