A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bonenfant family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 1005 · Belgian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. au chev. d'azur, acc. de trois los. de gu.”
BelgiumTournaisis, c. 1737
Where the Bonenfant Arms Were Recorded
Tournaisis
Map of Belgium showing where the Bonenfant arms are recorded
The Bonenfant arms were recorded in Tournaisis, c. 1737.
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 Belgium in this period.
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
1711–1740
Reigning in Belgium when the Bonenfant arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Belgium
In Belgium, a coat of arms is considered personal property that is passed down through the male line to legitimate descendants. Families often use the same shield design across generations to show their shared heritage. If a branch of the family wants to change the design, they must apply for an official update to their specific version of the arms.
Granting authority
The Conseil héraldique is the official body that regulates and approves all coats of arms in Belgium.
How they got arms
Families obtain their coats of arms through formal royal grants or by confirming their historical right to use existing designs.
Where arms were recorded
All approved coats of arms are officially recorded in the public registers of the Conseil héraldique since 1844.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Belgium.
Origin & History of the Bonenfant Family in Belgium
The surname Bonenfant, which translates literally to "good child," originated as a descriptive nickname in the medieval period to identify someone with a kind or pleasant temperament. By the early eighteenth century, historical records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established within the Tournaisis region of Belgium. During this era, the area was a center of agricultural and craft production, and the Bonenfant family likely participated in the local economy of the Scheldt river valley. Because the name was often given to individuals who displayed good character, it became a common way to distinguish families in small village communities. As the family grew in the Tournaisis, they became deeply rooted in the local social fabric, contributing to the development of the region through their daily labor and community involvement.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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'arg. à la croix pattée de sa.”
BretagneBretagne, c. 1663
Where the Bonenfant Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Bonenfant arms are recorded
The Bonenfant arms were recorded in Bretagne, c. 1663.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in Belgium when the Bonenfant 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 Bretagne.
Origin & History of the Bonenfant Family in France
The surname Bonenfant originates from the French language and translates literally to "good child." During the Middle Ages, such names were often given as descriptive nicknames to individuals who displayed a pleasant or well-behaved nature. By the time historical records confirm the presence of the Bonenfant family in the region of Bretagne in 1663, the name had already transitioned from a simple nickname into a formal hereditary surname passed down through generations. Families bearing this name were typically part of the rural population, often working as farmers or tradespeople within the complex social structure of the French provinces. Their presence in Bretagne suggests they were part of the local community life that defined the western coast of France during the seventeenth century, living through the agricultural traditions and regional customs that shaped the identity of the Breton people long before modern national records were fully established.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bon enfant
Derived from the Old French words for good and child.
This name
BonenfantA nickname originally used to describe a well-behaved or pleasant person.
also spelled
Bonenfand
Bonenfan
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives de l'État à Tournai, Registres paroissiaux de la ville de Tournai, 1737
Herbillon, Jules and Germain, Jean, Dictionnaire des noms de famille en Belgique romane et dans les régions limitrophes, 1996
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
cross symbolChristian faith and service
