| ![Show Contents]() Squier History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The name Squier was brought to England in the great wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Squier is for a squire. Looking back even further, we found the name was originally derived from the Old French word escuyer, which indicated someone of the social rank immediately below a knight. 1 2 As by way on confirmation, Chaucer in his Canterbury Tales noted " With hym ther was his sone, a yong Squier." Early Origins of the Squier familyThe surname Squier was first found in Worcestershire where they held a family seat from very early times as Lords of the manor of Hanbury, and also estates in Devon. In Cornwall, "the church of St. Keverne is ornamented with a lofty steeple, which, standing on rising ground, is a conspicuous object at a great distance. Within the church there are memorials of the several families of Bogan, Sandys, and Squier." 3 "Squire is a numerous name in Barnstaple [Devon] and its neighbourhood. The mayors of that town in 1353 and 1471 bore this name." 4 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included listings of John le Squier, Cambridgeshire; and William Squier, Huntingdonshire. Later the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of Yorkshire listed Thomas Squier; and Agnes Squier as holding lands there at that time. 5 In the New World, the family rose to prominence particularly in Newfoundland, where Sir Richard Squires was Newfoundland's 6th Prime Minister. Today, many of the family reside there with both spellings, Squire and Squires. Early History of the Squier familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Squier research. Another 94 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1387, 1595, 1598, 1677 and 1700 are included under the topic Early Squier History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Squier Spelling VariationsBefore the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Squier were recorded, including Squire, Squair, Skair, Skuyer, Squires and others. Early Notables of the Squier familyOutstanding amongst the family at this time was Edward Squire (died 1598), alleged conspirator, "originally followed the calling of a scrivener at Greenwich, where he married and had children. He then obtained a post in Queen Elizabeth's stables, but, being 'a man of wit above his vocation,' gave up his position to become a sailor. In August 1595 he started with Drake on his last voyage to the West Indies, being on board the Francis, a small barque. Late in October the Francis separated from the rest of the fleet off Guadeloupe...
Another 91 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Squier Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Squier RankingIn the United States, the name Squier is the 18,436th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 6  Migration of the Squier family to Ireland
Some of the Squier family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Squier migration to the United States | + |
The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Squier arrived in North America very early:
Squier Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- William Squier, who arrived in Maryland in 1665 7
Squier Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Mr. Squier, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1822 7
| Squier migration to West Indies | + |
The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 8Squier Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century- Mr. Phillipp Squier, (b. 1614), aged 20, British settler travelling from London, UK arriving in St Christopher (St. Kitts) on 5th January 1634 7
| Contemporary Notables of the name Squier (post 1700) | + |
- Ziba L. Squier, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from Chautauqua County 1st District, 1935 9
- Raymond C. Squier, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from Columbia, 1922, 1926 9
- Orrin D. Squier, American politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Branford, 1823 9
- L. B. Squier, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Wisconsin, 1912 9
- Karla Squier, American Republican politician, Member of New Jersey Republican State Committee, 1976 9
- John J. Squier, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Illinois, 1884 9
- Cecil C. Squier, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Maryland, 1940 9
- Albert C. Squier, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Ashford; Elected 1906 9
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Tiens ferme
Motto Translation: Hold firm.
- Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
- Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
- Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, April 29) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
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Squier migration to the United States 
Squier migration to West Indies 
England
Ireland
