A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bonnaire family of France.
Reg. 1991 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur au dextrochère arm., iss. d'une nuée d'arg., tenant une épée du même, garnie d'or, acc. en chef de deux croiss. d'arg.”
PicardiePicardie, c. 1663
Where the Bonnaire Arms Were Recorded
Picardie
Map of France showing where the Bonnaire arms are recorded
The Bonnaire arms were recorded in Picardie, c. 1663.
Picardie lay on the northern road into France and saw armies pass through it repeatedly. Its landowners were soldiers as often as farmers, and a soldier needed a shield he could be recognised by.
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 France when the Bonnaire 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 Picardie.
Origin & History of the Bonnaire Family in France
The family name Bonnaire finds its historical roots in the northern regions of France, specifically within the province of Picardie. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the Bonnaire family were already well-established residents of this area. The name itself is thought to be derived from the Old French term bon aire, which translates to good nature or good disposition. During the seventeenth century, families in Picardie were often deeply connected to the local agricultural economy and the social structures of their rural parishes. As the family grew, they became part of the regional fabric of northern France, living through a period of significant transition as the French monarchy consolidated its power over the provinces. The presence of the Bonnaire name in these early parish registers suggests a stable lineage that played a quiet but consistent role in the development of their local community.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bon
Derived from the Latin bonus meaning good or virtuous.
This name
BonnaireRefers to a person who lived in a good or pleasant area.
also spelled
Bonnaier
Bonair
Bonnair
Related arms
Ladmirault (de) - Limousin, Parissimilar arms
le Prévost (le) duquesnelsimilar arms
Louvel de Repainvillesimilar arms
* **d'or:**recorded with Bonnaire, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Somme, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil (1600-1700)
Boulanger, Marcel, Histoire de la Picardie, 1948
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
