Mr. ? - Historic Etiquette

Historic Etiquette

Historically, Mr, like Sir, once indicated an ill-defined social status only applied to gentlemen or persons at or above one's own station as a mark of respect. This understanding is all but obsolete today.

In past centuries, Mr was used with a first name to distinguish among family members who might otherwise be confused in conversation: Mr Smith would be the eldest present; younger brothers or cousins were then referred to as Mr James Smith and Mr Robert Smith and so on. Such usage survived longer in family-owned business or when domestic servants were referring to adult male family members with the same surname: "Mr Robert and Mr Richard will be out this evening, but Mr Edward is dining in," but such usage today is rare.