OUR HISTORY – ESQUIRE

Every now and then over the decades the question of whether a Justice of the Peace is entitled to “Esquire” or “Esq” after their name… such as Blankety Blank, Esquire, J.P. The answer’s been consistently following English custom that “Esquire” is officially available as a courtesy title for the sons of peers, noblemen of foreign countries, the eldest sons of knights and baronets, barristers-at-law and solicitors, Justices of the Peace and Mayors while in office, holders of superior offices under the Crown, and persons styled as esquires in Royal patents or commissions. Until the 1960s Justices of the Peace gazetted in New Zealand were formally announced with “esquire” after their names. 

Researched and compiled by Ric Carlyon