Esquire title

[mgallery]

Hi

I would love to know how Esquire was used in the 19th and 20th centuries. My father who always used it said it meant that you had land (he did not specify how much). When I look at my family in the 19th century only those who actually owned some acreage used Esquire otherwise they used Mr.

The definitions online say Esquire has nothing to do with land that it is just an honorific. The anecdotal evidence belies that,

Any opinion ?

Margaret