A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bonnier family of France.
Reg. 8615 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
bombOne who has faced a great siege
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or au léopard lionné de gu.; au chef d'azur, ch. de trois grenades d'or.”
LorraineLorraine, c. 1566
Where the Bonnier Arms Were Recorded
Lorraine
Map of France showing where the Bonnier arms are recorded
The Bonnier arms were recorded in Lorraine, c. 1566.
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.
Charles IX of France
Sovereign of the period
Charles IX of France
1560–1574
Reigning in France when the Bonnier 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 Bonnier Family in France
The Bonnier family name has deep roots in the Lorraine region of France, where records confirm their presence as early as 1566. The name is believed to originate from the Old French word bonnier, which was a historical unit of land measurement used in parts of France and the Low Countries. Because of this connection, historians suggest that the earliest ancestors to carry the name were likely farmers or landowners who managed property defined by this specific acreage. Over generations, the family became well-established within the local social structure of Lorraine. They lived through a period of significant political change as the region shifted between various regional powers, which often influenced how families recorded their names and property holdings in official documents. By maintaining their presence in the area for centuries, the Bonnier family became a recognized part of the local history of eastern France.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
bon
Derived from the Latin word bonus meaning good or virtuous.
This name
BonnierA topographic name for someone who lived on good or fertile land.
also spelled
Bonier
Bonnierre
Bonye
Related arms
Ballotsimilar arms
Bellotsimilar arms
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
Archives départementales de Meurthe-et-Moselle, Série B: Cours et juridictions
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.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
bombOne who has faced a great siege
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
bombOne who has faced a great siege
