A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bonet family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 7147 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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'azur à la bande d'arg., ch. de trois merlettes de sa.”
FranceComtat-Venaissin, c. 1663
Where the Bonet Arms Were Recorded
Comtat-Venaissin
Map of France showing where the Bonet arms are recorded
The Bonet arms were recorded in Comtat-Venaissin, c. 1663.
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 Bonet 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 Bonet Family in France
The surname Bonet has deep roots in the historical region of the Comtat-Venaissin, a territory in southern France that was once governed directly by the Papacy. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the Bonet family were well-established residents within this unique enclave. The name itself is thought to be a variation of the Old French word for a type of cap or head covering, which suggests that an early ancestor may have been a skilled hatter or a merchant who sold such items. Because the Comtat-Venaissin was a crossroads for trade and cultural exchange between France and Italy, families like the Bonets often lived in a vibrant environment that blended different regional customs. Over the following centuries, the family became part of the local social fabric, contributing to the agricultural and civic life of the towns nestled near the Rhône River. Their presence in this specific region highlights how families often stayed rooted in one area for generations, allowing them to build a lasting legacy within their local community.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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 sa. au lion d'or, cour. du même, tenant de sa patte dextre un panache de trois pl. d'aut., d'arg., d'or et de gu. Cq. cour. C.: cinq pl. d'aut.: d'or, de sa., d'arg., de gu. et d'or. L.: à dextre d'or et de sa., à sen. d'arg. et de gu.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Bonet Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Bonet arms are recorded
The Bonet arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1765.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit in the registers.
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 Germany in this period.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in France when the Bonet arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
In the Holy Roman Empire, coats of arms were often granted to individuals by the Emperor or his representatives. These arms were then passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants of the original holder. Younger branches of a family usually kept the same shield design without needing to change it, as the arms belonged to the entire lineage.
Granting authority
The Holy Roman Emperor held the sole power to grant new coats of arms throughout his vast imperial territories.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal imperial grant or by proving their noble status to the authorities.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Imperial Chancery registers, which began keeping formal records of such honors during the Middle Ages.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Germany.
Origin & History of the Bonet Family in Germany
The family name Bonet has deep roots in the historical landscape of southern Germany, particularly within the region of Bavaria. By the mid-eighteenth century, records confirm that members of the family were well-established residents of this area. The name itself likely evolved from older linguistic traditions, potentially serving as a descriptive term or a shortened form of a given name common to the Germanic and Romance-speaking borderlands. During the 1765 period, families like the Bonets were often deeply integrated into the local agricultural and artisanal economies that defined Bavarian village life. As the region underwent significant social and administrative changes during the Enlightenment, the Bonet family participated in the typical migration patterns of the era, moving between rural parishes and growing trade centers. Their presence in the historical record during this time reflects the broader movement of families who helped shape the cultural and social fabric of southern Germany long before the unification of the modern nation.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
bonus
Latin term meaning good or virtuous.
This name
BonetA nickname for a good or kind person, or a diminutive form of the name Bon.
also spelled
Boned
Bonett
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de Vaucluse, Série E, État civil et registres paroissiaux du Comtat-Venaissin
Benoit, Fernand, La Provence et le Comtat Venaissin, 1949
Moreri, Louis, Le Grand Dictionnaire Historique, 1759
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
lionCourage, strength and royalty
