A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bonicelli family of Italy.
Reg. 9742 · Italian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
branchPeace, and new growth
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé d'arg. sur azur; à deux branches d'olivier, passées en double saut., d'azur sur l'arg. et d'or sur l'azur, accostées de deux lions ramp. et affr. sur l'azur: à la champagne bandée d'arg. et de gu. C.: un lion iss. d'or.”
DalmatiaDalmatia, c. 1775
Where the Bonicelli Arms Were Recorded
Map of Italy showing where the Bonicelli arms are recorded
The Bonicelli arms were recorded in Dalmatia, c. 1775.
Dalmatia was a string of walled towns along the Adriatic coast, each with its own leading families. Sea trade made them wealthy, and the towns kept lists of the houses entitled to 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 Italy in this period.
Alvise Giovanni Mocenigo
Sovereign of the period
Alvise Giovanni Mocenigo
1763–1778
Reigning in Italy when the Bonicelli 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 Dalmatia.
Origin & History of the Bonicelli Family in Italy
The Bonicelli family name is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of the Adriatic region, with significant records placing the family in Dalmatia by 1775. During this era, Dalmatia served as a vital crossroads for trade and culture between the Venetian Republic and the Balkan interior. Families like the Bonicellis often occupied roles that required strong connections to maritime commerce and local administration. The name itself follows a traditional Italian linguistic pattern, suggesting that the family likely maintained strong cultural and economic ties to the Italian peninsula while living in the coastal cities of the eastern Adriatic. As the region underwent shifts in political power during the late 18th century, the Bonicelli family remained part of the established social fabric, contributing to the unique blend of Mediterranean influences that defined Dalmatian life at the time.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bonus
Latin term meaning good or virtuous.
This name
BonicelliA diminutive form indicating a descendant of a good or kind person.
also spelled
Bonicelly
Bonicelie
Boniseli
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Fisković, Cvito. Dalmatinske studije. 1975
Novak, Grga. Prošlost Dalmacije. 1951
State Archives in Zadar (Državni arhiv u Zadru), Spisi obitelji i pojedinaca (Family and Personal Papers)
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
branchPeace, and new growth
lionCourage, strength and royalty
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
branchPeace, and new growth
lionCourage, strength and royalty
