| ![Show Contents]() Squiers History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The ancestors of the Squiers family brought their name to England in the wave of migration after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Squiers 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 Squiers familyThe surname Squiers 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 Squiers familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Squiers research. Another 94 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1387, 1595, 1598, 1677 and 1700 are included under the topic Early Squiers History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Squiers Spelling VariationsSpelling variations in names were a common occurrence in the eras before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate regularly changed the spellings of their names as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Squiers have been found, including Squire, Squair, Skair, Skuyer, Squires and others. Early Notables of the Squiers 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 Squiers Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Squiers family to IrelandSome of the Squiers 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.
| Squiers migration to the United States | + |
For many English families, the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. For such families, the shores of Ireland, Australia, and the New World beckoned. They left their homeland at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. Many arrived after the long voyage sick, starving, and without a penny. But even those were greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. Numerous English settlers who arrived in the United States and Canada at this time went on to make important contributions to the developing cultures of those countries. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Squiers were among those contributors:
Squiers Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- H N Squiers, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 6
- J Squiers, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 6
| Squiers migration to Canada | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Squiers Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century- Seth Squiers, who arrived in New Brunswick in 1783
- Seth, Squiers Jr., who landed in New Brunswick in 1783
- Mr. Seth Squiers U.E. born in Stratford, Connecticut, USA who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1783 passenger aboard the Union Transport, he was a Farmer, who arrived with 6 children including Seth Squires Jr. 7
- Mr. Seth Squiers Jr., U.E. born in Stratford, Connecticut, USA who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1783 passenger aboard the Union Transport, he was a Farmer, 7
| Contemporary Notables of the name Squiers (post 1700) | + |
- Lissa Squiers, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Texas 7th District, 2010, 2012 (Democratic primary) 8
- John A. Squiers, American politician, U.S. Vice Consul in Paris, 1925-26 8
- Arnon L. Squiers, American politician, Justice of New York Supreme Court 2nd District, 1920 8
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)
- 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)
- Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, April 29) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
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