A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bonanno family of France.
Reg. 5867 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à un chat pass. de sa. Manteau et couronne de prince. D.: NEQUE SOL PER DIEM, NEQUE LUNA PER NOCTEM.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Bonanno Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Bonanno arms are recorded
The Bonanno arms were recorded in France, c. 1725.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Bonanno 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 France.
Origin & History of the Bonanno Family in France
The name Bonanno is rooted in the Italian language, where it serves as a combination of the words "buono" and "anno," which translate to "good year." This name was often given as a positive wish for a child to have a prosperous and happy life. While the name is famously associated with Italian heritage, historical records confirm that members of the family were established in the Brittany region of France by 1725. During this period, families often moved across European borders due to trade, military service, or shifting political alliances. The presence of the Bonanno family in Brittany suggests they were part of a broader network of migration that connected Mediterranean families to the northern coastal regions of France. Over time, the family integrated into the local culture while maintaining their distinct ancestral name, which served as a link to their origins.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bonus
Latin term meaning good or virtuous.
This name
BonannoDerived from a medieval nickname signifying a good or kind person.
also spelled
Bonanne
Bonann
Bonano
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
De Felice, Emidio. Dizionario dei cognomi italiani. 1978
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille. 1991
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
