A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bonfield family of England.
Reg. 3290 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
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applePeace, plenty and long-standing settlement
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Az. a chev. betw. three pears or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Bonfield Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Bonfield arms are recorded
The Bonfield arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Bonfield arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Bonfield Family in England
The family name Bonfield is rooted in the landscape of medieval England, likely originating as a topographical surname for people who lived near a "good field" or a pleasant stretch of land. By the year 1620, historical records confirm that members of the Bonfield family were well-established residents of York. During this period, York served as a vital northern hub for trade and administration, suggesting that the family was likely involved in the city’s bustling merchant class or local craft guilds. Life in seventeenth-century York was defined by the city's ancient stone walls and its proximity to the River Ouse, which provided the family with essential links to wider regional markets. As the family grew within this historic urban center, they became part of the long-standing social fabric that shaped the development of northern England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bona-feld
Derived from the Latin bonus meaning good and Old English feld open land.
This name
BonfieldRefers to a person who lived on or near a piece of good, productive open pasture land.
also spelled
Bonefield
Bonfeld
Bonefeld
Related arms
Bonefeldvariant spelling
Bonefieldvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
applePeace, plenty and long-standing settlement
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
applePeace, plenty and long-standing settlement
