Map of France showing where the Bodini arms are recorded
The Bodini arms were recorded in Poitou, c. 1663.
Poitou was western French farming country, divided among a large number of small landed families. Its gentry were numerous and modest, and even a small estate was enough to justify a shield.
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 France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Bodini arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Poitou.
Origin & History of the Bodini Family in France
The family name Bodini finds its roots in the historical landscape of Western Europe, with documented evidence placing early members in the Poitou region of France by 1663. During this period, Poitou served as a vibrant crossroads for trade and agriculture, influencing the lives of families living within its borders. The name itself likely evolved from local linguistic traditions, reflecting the naming customs common to the rural populations of the seventeenth century. As these early ancestors navigated the social and economic shifts of the French provinces, they established a presence that would eventually see the name spread across different regions. This transition from a localized group in Poitou to a broader family identity highlights the resilience and mobility of families living in pre-modern France.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bodo
A Germanic personal name derived from the word for messenger or herald.
This name
BodiniA patronymic or diminutive form indicating a descendant or follower of a person named Bodo.
also spelled
Bodine
Bodinn
Bodeen
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Vienne, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Beauchet-Filleau, Henri, Dictionnaire historique et généalogique des familles du Poitou, 1891
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
