A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bienvenu family of Switzerland.
Reg. 6210 · Swiss, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. à deux flèches d'or, passées en saut.”
GenevoisGenevois, c. 1745
Where the Bienvenu Arms Were Recorded
Map of Switzerland showing where the Bienvenu arms are recorded
The Bienvenu arms were recorded in Genevois, c. 1745.
Genevois was Alpine country south of Geneva, held in small estates by families who stayed put. Land there passed down the same line for centuries, and long tenure counted for more than wealth.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Switzerland in this period.
How Arms Worked in Switzerland
In Switzerland, coats of arms were not restricted to the nobility and were often adopted by common citizens and families. These symbols were passed down through generations to show family identity. When branches of a family grew, they often changed small details of the design to distinguish their own line from the original group.
Granting authority
Cantonal and civic authorities managed the use of coats of arms within their specific regions and local jurisdictions.
How they got arms
Families typically assumed their own coats of arms based on local custom rather than receiving them from a central monarch.
Where arms were recorded
Arms were recorded in various cantonal and civic registers starting from the fourteenth century throughout the Swiss region.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Genevois.
Origin & History of the Bienvenu Family in Switzerland
The surname Bienvenu is a French name that carries a warm and welcoming meaning, as it translates directly to "welcome." Historically, this name was often given as a nickname to someone who was considered a pleasant or well-received guest in their community. By the year 1745, records confirm that members of the Bienvenu family were firmly established in the Genevois region, a historical territory located between the Alps and the Jura Mountains. During this period, families in this area were deeply connected to the land and local trade, often living in small, tight-knit mountain villages. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the region, contributing to the agricultural and artisanal life that defined the Genevois during the eighteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Benevenutus
Latin for well or good, combined with the word for arrived.
This name
BienvenuA medieval given name signifying a welcome guest or one who has arrived well.
also spelled
Byenvenu
Byanvenoo
Beanvenoo
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives: Archives départementales de la Haute-Savoie, État civil de la province du Genevois
Books: Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Books: Gros, Adolphe, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de lieu de la Savoie, 1935
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
