A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bonhomme family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 7718 · Belgian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Coupé: au 1 d'arg. au lion léopardé de gu.; au 2 d'or au saut. de gu. C.: un lion iss. de gu. T.: à dextre un sauvage, ceint. et cour. de lierre, arm. d'une massue appuyée sur le sol, tenant une bannière aux armes du 2; à sen. un lion reg. de gu., tenant une bannière aux armes du 1 [Comp. Bounam de Ryckholt.]”
LiegeLuxemb · Liege, c. 1653
Where the Bonhomme Arms Were Recorded
Liege
Map of Belgium showing where the Bonhomme arms are recorded
The Bonhomme arms were recorded in Liege, c. 1653.
Liege was a prosperous town and its surrounding country, living on metalworking and trade. Merchant families grew rich, bought land outside the walls, and took arms as landowners rather than tradesmen.
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.
Philip IV of Spain
Sovereign of the period
Philip IV of Spain
1621–1665
Reigning in Belgium when the Bonhomme 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 Liege.
Origin & History of the Bonhomme Family in Belgium
The family name Bonhomme carries a long history in the region of Liège, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1653. In the French language, the name translates to good man, which likely began as a descriptive nickname for a person known for their kind character or honest reputation. During the seventeenth century, Liège was a bustling center of industry and trade, and families with this name were often integrated into the local urban life. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the Prince-Bishopric of Liège, contributing to the local economy and community development. Over time, the name transitioned from a simple personal descriptor into a formal surname passed down through generations, marking the family as a stable presence in the historical landscape of eastern Belgium.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'arg. au chev. de gu., acc. de trois oiseaux de sa.; au chef d'azur, ch. de trois étoiles d'or.”
FranceParis, c. 1663
Where the Bonhomme Arms Were Recorded
Paris
Map of France showing where the Bonhomme arms are recorded
The Bonhomme arms were recorded in Paris, 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 Belgium when the Bonhomme 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 Bonhomme Family in France
The name Bonhomme emerged in medieval France as a descriptive nickname, likely given to individuals noted for their kind or upright character. By the time records confirm the presence of the family in Paris in 1663, the name had become well-established among the urban population. During the seventeenth century, families bearing this name were often integrated into the social and economic fabric of the capital, working as skilled tradespeople or minor officials. The name reflects a period when surnames were evolving from simple identifiers of personality into permanent family markers passed down through generations. As the Bonhomme family settled into the bustling environment of Paris, they contributed to the diverse professional life of the city, leaving behind a legacy rooted in the common language and social structures of the French kingdom.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bonus homo
Latin phrase meaning good man.
This name
BonhommeA descriptive nickname for a kind, virtuous, or honest individual.
also spelled
Bonhom
Bonom
Goodman
Related arms
Roujousame arms
Rousseau d'Hériamontsimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives de l'État à Liège, Registres paroissiaux de la ville de Liège
Archives de l'État à Liège, Cour féodale de Liège
Herbillon, Jules and Germain, Jean, Dictionnaire des noms de famille en Belgique romane et dans les régions limitrophes, 1996
Lejeune, Jean, La principauté de Liège, 1948
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
lionCourage, strength and royalty
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
