A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Boninsegna family of Italy.
Reg. 0337 · Italian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 gu. à trois bandes d'or, acc. de huit bill. du même, 1, 3, 3 et 1, posées dans le sens des bandes.”
VeniceVenice, c. 1775
Where the Boninsegna Arms Were Recorded
Venice
Map of Italy showing where the Boninsegna arms are recorded
The Boninsegna arms were recorded in Venice, c. 1775.
Venice ran on trade, and its great families were merchants before they were anything else. The city kept a formal list of its noble houses, and a name on that list carried arms as a matter of record.
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 Boninsegna 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 Venice.
Origin & History of the Boninsegna Family in Italy
The name Boninsegna is rooted in the medieval Italian tradition of combining personal names to create a lasting family identifier. It is derived from the compound of "buono," meaning good, and "insegna," which refers to a sign, mark, or banner. Historically, this suggests that the earliest ancestors to carry the name may have been known for their reliability or perhaps for their role as standard-bearers in local civic or military organizations. By the late eighteenth century, records confirm that the family had established a notable presence in Venice. During this period, Venice was a thriving center of trade and culture, and families like the Boninsegna were often integrated into the city’s complex social fabric as merchants, artisans, or minor officials. Their residence in such a prominent maritime power indicates that the family was well-positioned within the urban economy of the time.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bonus Signum
Latin for good sign or favorable omen.
This name
BoninsegnaDerived from a medieval personal name signifying a good or auspicious omen.
also spelled
Boninsegny
Boninsegnie
Boninsenya
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
De Felice, Emidio. Dizionario dei cognomi italiani. 1978
Cessi, Roberto. Storia della Repubblica di Venezia. 1944
Archivio di Stato di Venezia, Anagrafe di Venezia
Archivio di Stato di Venezia, Registri dei battesimi e matrimoni
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
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
