<P> By the early 20th century, it came to be used as a general courtesy title for any man in a formal setting, usually as a suffix to his name, as in "Todd Smith, Esq .", with no precise significance . In the United Kingdom today, it is still commonly used as a written style of address in formal or professional correspondence . In certain formal contexts, it remains an indication of a social status that is recognised in the formal Order of Precedence . </P> <P> In the United States, Esquire is mostly used to denote a lawyer, in a departure from traditional use, and is irrespective of gender . In letters, a lawyer is customarily addressed by adding the suffix Esquire (abbreviated Esq .), preceded by a comma, after the lawyer's full name . </P> <P> Chief Justice Coke (1552--1634) defined "gentlemen" as those who bear coat armour . From the 16th century such families were defined by the inclusion of their pedigrees within their county's Heraldic Visitations, which necessitated their submitting a return of their pedigree to the visiting herald at the specified location, generally one of the chief towns of the county . The 1623 Heraldic Visitation for Gloucestershire, for example, includes a section at the back headed: "A note of such as were disclaymed to be no gentilmen within the county and city of Gloucester", the list being headed by "Edward Hill, Customer, of Gloucester, neither gentilman of bloud, ancestry nor armes". The list thus identifies those persons whose returns were not accepted, perhaps because fabricated or insufficiently evidenced in some way . </P> <P> Sir John Fearn in "Glory of Generositie" spoke of esquires by creation, birth, dignity and office, specifying several circumstances that customarily conferred the title . </P>

What does esquire mean behind someone's name