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Show ContentsSquires History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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Squires is one of the many new names that came to England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Squires 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 Squires family

The surname Squires 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 Squires family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Squires research. Another 94 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1387, 1595, 1598, 1677 and 1700 are included under the topic Early Squires History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Squires Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Squire, Squair, Skair, Skuyer, Squires and others.

Early Notables of the Squires family

Outstanding 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 Squires Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Squires World Ranking

In the United States, the name Squires is the 2,181st most popular surname with an estimated 14,922 people with that name. [6] However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Squires is ranked the 39th most popular surname with an estimated 567 people with that name. [7]

Ireland Migration of the Squires family to Ireland

Some of the Squires 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.

United States Squires migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Squires or a variant listed above:

Squires Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Nicholas Squires, who settled in Virginia in 1654
  • Nich Squires, who landed in Virginia in 1654 [8]
  • Mary Squires, who arrived in Maryland in 1674 [8]
  • Elizabeth Squires, who landed in Maryland in 1674 [8]
  • Ethelia Squires, who arrived in Maryland in 1674 [8]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Squires Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • George Squires, who settled in Maryland in 1775
Squires Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Jonathan Squires, who arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1807 [8]
  • Mr. Squires, who landed in Mobile, Ala in 1822 [8]
  • L Squires, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 [8]
  • M L Squires, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 [8]
  • Thomas Squires, aged 16, who arrived in New York in 1854 [8]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Squires migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Squires Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century
Squires Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Benjamin Squires, who settled in Great Bell Island, Newfoundland in 1770 [9]
  • Mr. William Squires U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway, [Shelbourne], Nova Scotia on October 26, 1783 was passenger number 175 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on September 28, 1783 at Staten Island, New York, USA [10]
  • Mr. Richard Squires U.E., (Squeirs) who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 he became a Freeman in 1785 was a Grocer [10]

Australia Squires migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Squires Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Miss Mary Squires, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Broxbournebury" in January 1814, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [11]
  • John Squires, English convict from Lincoln, who was transported aboard the "Asia" on April 1st, 1822, settling in New South Wales, Australia [12]
  • Mr. Thomas Squires, (b. 1791), aged 39, English ploughman who was convicted in Yorkshire, England for 7 years for larceny, transported aboard the "Florentia" on 11th August 1830, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1831 [13]
  • Mr. Joseph Squires, (b. 1811), aged 20, English carter who was convicted in Leicester, Leicestershire, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" on 3rd October 1831, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1850 [14]
  • Mr. William Squires, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, London, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Enchantress"on 6th April 1833, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [15]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Squires migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Squires Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • William Squires, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Empress" in 1865
  • William Squires, aged 34, a labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Cartvale" in 1874
  • Miss Susan Squires, British settler travelling from London, UK with 1 child aboard the ship "Assaye" arriving in Auckland, North Island, New Zealand on 26th December 1874 [16]
  • Susan Squires, aged 27, a servant, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Assaye" in 1874 [16]

Contemporary Notables of the name Squires (post 1700) +

  • Sir Richard Anderson Squires (1880-1940), British politician, Prime Minister of Newfoundland from 1919 to 1923 and 1928 to 1932
  • William "Bill" Squires (1932-2022), American track and field coach from Arlington, Massachusetts, recipient of the Bill Bowerman award from the National Distance Running Hall of Fame.
  • Mark Squires, American attorney and wine critic for eRobertParker.com
  • William H. Squires, American Democratic Party politician, College professor; Candidate for New York State Assembly from Oneida County 2nd District, 1903; Candidate for U.S. Representative from New York 27th District, 1904 [17]
  • William G. Squires, American Republican politician, Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from East Hartford, 1934 [17]
  • Samuel E. Squires (b. 1882), American Republican politician [17]
  • Ogden Squires, American politician, Member of California State Assembly 18th District, 1859-60 [17]
  • Mark Squires, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from North Carolina, 1924 [17]
  • Lyman H. Squires, American politician, Representative from Connecticut 2nd District, 1892 [17]
  • Lloyd H. Squires, American politician, Mayor of Olathe, Kansas, 1953-54 [17]
  • ... (Another 21 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Halifax Explosion
  • Mrs. Mary  Squires (1857-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) [18]
  • Mr. Charles  Squires (1879-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) [18]
  • Mr. Richard  Squires (1882-1917), Canadian resident from Rockingham, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) [18]
  • Mr. William  Squires (1914-1917), Canadian resident from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada who survived the Halifax Explosion (1917) but later died due to injuries [18]
HMS Cornwall
  • John Eric Squires (d. 1942), British Ordinary Seaman aboard the HMS Cornwall when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking [19]
HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. Leonard Squires, British Band Bugler, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking [20]
HMS Royal Oak
  • Leslie Gordon Squires (1906-1939), British Leading Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking [21]
SS Newfoundland
  • Mr. Lemuel Squires (b. 1891), Newfoundlander from Topsail, who on the 30th March 1914 he was part of the Seal Crew of the "SS Newfoundland" leaving the ship to intercept the Stephano which took him to the hunting grounds, he disembarked to begin sealing, but was caught in a thickening storm, attempting to return to the Newfoundland he and the 132 crew made camp for two days the sealers were stranded on the ice in a blizzard attempting to return to the ship, he survived
SS Southern Cross
  • Mr. William Edward Squires (1875-1914), Newfoundlander from Chamberlains who was aboard the "SS Southern Cross" when it is suspected she sank between the 31st March 1914 and early April during the storm with a heavy load of pelts; no survivors were ever found
  • Mr. James Squires (1885-1914), Newfoundlander from Broad Cove who was aboard the "SS Southern Cross" when it is suspected she sank between the 31st March 1914 and early April during the storm with a heavy load of pelts; no survivors were ever found
  • Mr. Fred Squires (1892-1914), Newfoundlander from St. John's who was aboard the "SS Southern Cross" when it is suspected she sank between the 31st March 1914 and early April during the storm with a heavy load of pelts; no survivors were ever found
  • Mr. Alex Squires (1889-1914), Newfoundlander from Topsail who was aboard the "SS Southern Cross" when it is suspected she sank between the 31st March 1914 and early April during the storm with a heavy load of pelts; no survivors were ever found

The Squires Motto +

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.
  1. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
  4. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  5. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  6. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  7. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  8. 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)
  9. Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
  10. 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
  11. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/broxbournebury
  12. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Asia 1 voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1822 with 190 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1822
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 11th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/florentia
  14. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
  15. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th April 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/enchantress
  16. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  17. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, April 29) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  18. Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
  19. Force Z Survivors Crew List HMS Cornwall (Retrieved 2018, February 13th) - Retrieved from https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listcornwallcrew.html#A
  20. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
  21. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
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