The SQUIRES surname is of Norman origin and was introduced into England following the 1066 AD Conquest as a "status name" for a man belonging to the social rank immediately below that of a knight.

The derivation is from the Old French "escuyer" or "escuier", from the Latin "scutanius", a derivative of "scutum", meaning shield. It may, therefore, have been a name for the trusted man who looked after the knight's shield. The word eventually evolved to become the middle English word 'squyer' or one of its many variants.

It is thought to have been first used in Worcestershire as Lords of the Manor of Hanbury and also in some Devon(shire) estates that had been granted by Duke William of Normandy, their liege Lord, in recognition of their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings.

The first recorded spelling of the family name is of Alword le Scuir (1100 - 1130)

Others include

By the early 15th century the word squire also began to refer to a noble man of high social standing who owned a large rural estate. By the 19th century most hamlets and villages had a local Squire.

Variants of the surname are many and include "Squier", "Swire" and "Swyer". Patronymic forms "son of Squire", include "Squires", "Squeers", "Swires", and "Swiers"