Bonaventura Coat of Arms Record & History

A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bonaventura family of Italy.

Reg. 5156 · Italian, A–C

Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details

Symbols on this shield

mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it

lionCourage, strength and royalty

Colours

Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity

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)

“D'arg. à un lion d'or, assis sur une terrasse de sin., coiffé d'un casque fermé de sa. portant en cimier un oiseau ess. au nat.; le lion posant sa patte dextre sur un écusson ovale de gu., cour. à l'antique, bordé d'or et ch. d'un trèfle de sin. posé sur un mont de six coupeaux du même.”

ItalyRome, c. 1775

Where the Bonaventura Arms Were Recorded

Rome

Map of Italy showing where the Bonaventura arms are recorded

The Bonaventura arms were recorded in Rome, c. 1775.

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.

Region: Rome
Town: Rome
First recorded: 1775

Granting Authority for the Bonaventura Arms

Authority

The Italian states

before 1861

The body that granted and recorded arms in Italy in this period.

Sovereign of the period

Alvise Giovanni Mocenigo

1763–1778

Reigning in Italy when the Bonaventura arms are first recorded.

How Arms Worked in Italy

In the Italian states, coats of arms were often used by noble families to show their status and history. These symbols were passed down through the generations to all legitimate male descendants. Younger branches of a family usually kept the original design but sometimes added small changes to distinguish their specific line from the main branch.

Granting authority: Various local rulers and city governments controlled the use of coats of arms across the different Italian states.
How they got arms: Families often assumed their own arms or received them as official grants from local lords, popes, or city councils.
Where arms were recorded: Arms were recorded in local city archives or private family books rather than in one single national register.
The family's standing: Recorded among the armigerous families of Italy.

Origin & History of the Bonaventura Family in Italy

The surname Bonaventura originates from the medieval Italian phrase meaning good fortune or good luck. It was often given as a name to express a wish for the prosperity of a child or as a tribute to the virtues of a saint. By the late eighteenth century, the family was well-established in Rome, a city that served as a major cultural and administrative hub during the Enlightenment. Records confirm their presence in the city by 1775, a time when Rome was undergoing significant architectural and social changes under the influence of the papacy. Families living in Rome during this era were often deeply integrated into the local parish life and the complex social hierarchies of the city. The name reflects a long-standing tradition of naming practices that focused on positive attributes and spiritual hope, which helped the family maintain its identity across generations in the heart of Italy.