Low social standing seems a broad based term; Mr Gardiner, snr was lower social standing as an Attorney but able to leave Mrs Bennet £4,000 and presumably his other children were left similar portions.
Hmm. Perhaps Mrs Elliot's father was an attorney like Mr Shepard ?
Now I'm reading into the text !

Sir Walter's main objection to the navy; 'it brings men of obscure birth into undue distinction'.
Though I think most men were 'obscure' to Sir Walter. ;0