Gentlemen

Originally gentlemen (Latin gentilis, Morman-French gentil and gentilhomme) meant no specific class but included barons, esquires, and even franklins (free-tenants), i.e. all who were not ignoble. By the early 15th century it came to have a specific meaning.

When gentlemen became regarded as a distinct order, they were associated with armigers, bearers of coats of arms. As late as the 15th century most of these were not granted in effect by the King, for the greater nobles maintained their own heralds and bestowed arms on their tenants. Generally, Commissioned officers below the rank stated under the description of Esquire are given the rank of gentleman.