A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Boniface family of France.
Reg. 2857 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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 trois fasces de sin.”
Francec. 1607
Where the Boniface Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Boniface arms are recorded
The Boniface arms were recorded in France, c. 1607.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
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.
Henry IV of France
Sovereign of the period
Henry IV of France
1589–1610
Reigning in France when the Boniface 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 Boniface Family in France
The name Boniface originates from the Latin term *bonifatius*, which translates to a person who does good deeds. During the Middle Ages, this name became popular across Europe because it was associated with several influential early Christian saints and popes. By the time the family was recorded in the Brittany region of France in 1607, the name had transitioned from a formal title of virtue into a hereditary surname. Families bearing this name in western France often lived in rural communities where they were likely involved in agriculture or local trade. Over the centuries, the name spread through the region as families moved between parishes to find work or establish new homesteads. Because the name was rooted in a positive moral quality, it remained a common choice for families who wanted to reflect their values through their identity.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bonifatius
Derived from the Latin words for good and fate or deed.
This name
BonifaceSignifies a person who is well-doing or brings good fortune.
also spelled
Bonifas
Bonifass
Related arms
Quevillesame arms
Bellengreviliesimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1607
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
