A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bonjour family of Switzerland.
Reg. 9651 · Swiss, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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'azur à un soleil d'or. C.: trois pl. d'aut., une d'or entre deux d'azur.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
Where the Bonjour Arms Were Recorded
Bern
Map of Switzerland showing where the Bonjour arms are recorded
The Bonjour arms were recorded in Switzerland, c. 1745.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bern.
Bern was the largest of the Swiss cantons and ran itself, with its own council and its own courts. Its governing families held office for generations, and office of that kind carried a shield with it.
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 Switzerland in this period.
How Arms Worked in Switzerland
In Switzerland, coats of arms were not restricted to the nobility and were often adopted by common citizens and families. These symbols were passed down through generations to show family identity. When branches of a family grew, they often changed small details of the design to distinguish their own line from the original group.
Granting authority
Cantonal and civic authorities managed the use of coats of arms within their specific regions and local jurisdictions.
How they got arms
Families typically assumed their own coats of arms based on local custom rather than receiving them from a central monarch.
Where arms were recorded
Arms were recorded in various cantonal and civic registers starting from the fourteenth century throughout the Swiss region.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Switzerland.
Origin & History of the Bonjour Family in Switzerland
The family name Bonjour originates from the French-speaking regions of Switzerland, where it functioned as a descriptive surname often given to individuals known for their cheerful disposition or as a friendly greeting. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the city of Bern, which served as a significant political and cultural hub within the Swiss Confederation. Records from 1745 confirm that members of the Bonjour family were integrated into the local community during this period, likely participating in the trade and civic life that defined the city. As the family grew, they maintained deep ties to the Swiss landscape, reflecting the broader migration patterns of families moving between the French-speaking cantons and the German-speaking capital. This history highlights a lineage rooted in the social fabric of Switzerland, where the name evolved from a simple expression of goodwill into a lasting family identity.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bonus
Latin term meaning good, virtuous, or favorable.
This name
BonjourA greeting or salutation derived from the French phrase for good day.
also spelled
Bonjours
Bonjoure
Bonjore
Bonjoor
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse (DHS), "Bonjour," 2004
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, "Bürgerrodel der Stadt Bern," 1745
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sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
