A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bonnet family lines. Documented in 3 countries.
Reg. 6105 · Belgian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur à la bande de gu., ch. de trois coquilles d'or, posées dans le sens de la bande.”
BelgiumBruges, c. 1737
Where the Bonnet Arms Were Recorded
Bruges
Map of Belgium showing where the Bonnet arms are recorded
The Bonnet arms were recorded in Bruges, c. 1737.
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 Belgium in this period.
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
1711–1740
Reigning in Belgium when the Bonnet arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Belgium
In Belgium, a coat of arms is considered personal property that is passed down through the male line to legitimate descendants. Families often use the same shield design across generations to show their shared heritage. If a branch of the family wants to change the design, they must apply for an official update to their specific version of the arms.
Granting authority
The Conseil héraldique is the official body that regulates and approves all coats of arms in Belgium.
How they got arms
Families obtain their coats of arms through formal royal grants or by confirming their historical right to use existing designs.
Where arms were recorded
All approved coats of arms are officially recorded in the public registers of the Conseil héraldique since 1844.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Belgium.
Origin & History of the Bonnet Family in Belgium
The surname Bonnet has deep roots in the historical landscape of Belgium, particularly within the bustling merchant city of Bruges. By the year 1737, records confirm that members of the Bonnet family were already established residents in this region. The name itself likely originated as a descriptive term, referring to a person who crafted or frequently wore a specific type of head covering known as a bonnet. During the eighteenth century, Bruges was a center of trade and craftsmanship, and families like the Bonnets often integrated into the local economy as skilled artisans or tradespeople. As these individuals moved through the cobblestone streets of Flanders, they helped define the social fabric of the city. Their presence in the historical archives of Bruges provides a clear link to a time when surnames were becoming permanent markers of family identity and professional life in the Low Countries.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bullValour and generosity
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Parti : au 1 d'arg. à une tête de boeuf de gu.; au 2 de gu. au lion d'or, tenant une hache d'armes du même.”
LorraineLorraine, c. 1501
Where the Bonnet Arms Were Recorded
Lorraine
Map of France showing where the Bonnet arms are recorded
The Bonnet arms were recorded in Lorraine, c. 1501.
Lorraine sat on the border between France and the German lands, and border country bred soldiers. Families here held small estates and served in arms, and a fighting man was exactly the sort who carried a shield of his own.
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 XII of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XII of France
1498–1515
Reigning in Belgium when the Bonnet 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 Lorraine.
Origin & History of the Bonnet Family in France
The family name Bonnet traces its roots back to the medieval period in France, where it originated as a descriptive occupational name. It was commonly given to those who crafted or sold headwear, as the word bonnet referred to a type of soft cap worn by commoners and nobility alike. By the year 1501, records confirm that members of the Bonnet family were well-established in the Lorraine region. During this era, Lorraine served as a vital crossroads between French and Germanic cultures, which likely influenced the family's social and economic development. As the name spread across the French countryside, it became a marker of skilled artisans who played a necessary role in the daily life of their communities. The persistence of the name in historical documents from the early sixteenth century suggests that the family was stable and deeply integrated into the local society of eastern France.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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 sa. au lion d'or, arm. et lamp. de gu., tenant un panache de trois pl. d'aut., une d'arg. entre deux d'or. Cq. cour. C.: cinq pl. d'aut.: d'or, de sa., d'arg., de sa. et d'or.”
SwitzerlandBâle, c. 1745
Where the Bonnet Arms Were Recorded
Bâle
Map of Switzerland showing where the Bonnet arms are recorded
The Bonnet arms were recorded in Bâle, c. 1745.
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 Bonnet Family in Switzerland
The surname Bonnet has deep roots in the French-speaking regions of Switzerland, where it functioned as a descriptive name for those who crafted or sold headwear. While the name appears in various records across Europe, the presence of the Bonnet family in Basel by 1745 highlights their integration into the urban life of a major Swiss trade hub. During this era, families with this name often moved between neighboring regions to pursue specialized work in textiles or commerce. By settling in cities like Basel, these individuals became part of the local social fabric, contributing to the professional guilds and the growing economic activity of the eighteenth century. Their history reflects the broader movement of skilled workers who helped shape the cultural and industrial identity of Switzerland during the Enlightenment.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
bon
A diminutive form derived from the Old French word for cap.
This name
BonnetRefers to a maker or seller of caps or hats.
also spelled
Bonned
Bone
Bonitt
Related arms
Bonet de la Chapouliesame arms
Abbainosimilar arms
Bougerelsimilar arms
Dalbiacrecorded with Bonnet, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Stadsarchief Brugge, Registers van de Burgerlijke Stand en Parochieregisters
De Flou, Karel, Woordenboek der Toponymie van westelijk Vlaanderen, Vlaamsch Artesië, het Land van den Hoek, de graafschappen Guînes en Boulogne en een gedeelte van het graafschap Ponthieu, 1914
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
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bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
bullValour and generosity
lionCourage, strength and royalty
