Meaning of Esquire or Esq. in Nineteenth Century Ireland

[jackmcgill]

I am researching Edward Fitzgerald, M.D., Esq. (b. about 1825, Co. Kerry or Limerick, d. 1879, Salem, Massachusetts).

Does Esq. in his title mean that he was a lawyer? Or landowner or university educated? His naturalization records say he was a school teacher when he arrived. I believe he trained as a physician in the US.

Thank you.

[MaecW]

There is a good explanation of the uses of this term in Wikipedia under the entry "Esquire".
At the time you are referring to Esquire, in England & Ireland, was taken to indicate somebody a little above the ordinary rank of "gentleman" so either the (otherwise untitled) owner of a large estate or the holder of a Crown office such as Justice of the Peace. The term was also being applied to some of the practitioners of certain professions, so both lawyers and medical doctors would usually qualify.

In the USA it appears to have been used mainly as a professional courtesy.
In the case you quote I'd suggest that the term was used because of Edward's medical qualification.

Maec

[jackmcgill]

Thank you. I appreciate your quick response.

[Maiden Stone]

There is a good explanation of the uses of this term in Wikipedia under the entry "Esquire".

In the USA it appears to have been used mainly as a professional courtesy.
In the case you quote I'd suggest that the term was used because of Edward's medical qualification.

1894 definition referenced in the article mentions doctors in faculties.
Which records have "Esq."?

[jackmcgill]

Which records have "Esq."?

The 1856 Death notice/Obituary of his first wife Eliza called him Edward Fitzgerald, Esq., M.D. It appeared in papers in Massachusetts, Dublin, Belfast and Cork.

Also, there is a book called "A History of the Kingdom of Kerry" by Mary Frances Cusack, 1871, p. lxxii. Available on Google books. In the back of the book he is listed on a List of Subscribers as Edward Fitzgerald, Esq., MD.