A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bonneau family of France.
Reg. 6416 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 chev. d'or, surm. de trois étoiles (5) du même, rangées en chef, et acc. en p. d'un croiss. d'arg.”
Francec. 1663
Where the Bonneau Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Bonneau arms are recorded
The Bonneau arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
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.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Bonneau 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 Bonneau Family in France
The family name Bonneau finds its roots in the French language as a diminutive form of the word bon, which translates to good. During the medieval period, this name was often used as a descriptive nickname for a person considered kind, pleasant, or virtuous. By the mid-seventeenth century, the Bonneau family had established a notable presence in the region of Bretagne. Records confirm that members of the family were living in this northwestern province of France by 1663, likely working as farmers, artisans, or tradespeople within their local rural communities. As the family grew, they integrated into the social fabric of the region, passing the name down through generations while maintaining their connection to the distinctive culture and traditions of the Breton people.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bon
Derived from the Latin word bonus meaning good or virtuous.
This name
BonneauA diminutive form referring to a good or kind person.
also spelled
Boneau
Bonno
Bonneaux
Bono
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
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
