A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bonny family of Scotland.
Reg. 1794 · Scottish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
sickleThe harvest, and the reaping of what was sown
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Az. three pair of compasses or, pointed sa”
Scotlandc. 1748
Where the Bonny Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Bonny arms are recorded
The Bonny arms were recorded in Scotland, c. 1748.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh was the seat of Scotland's government, its courts and its heralds. Families with business there settled nearby, and being close to where arms were recorded is exactly why so many of them appear.
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 Scotland in this period.
George II of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George II of Great Britain
1727–1760
Reigning in Scotland when the Bonny arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Scotland
Scottish heraldry is unique because it treats a coat of arms as a piece of personal property protected by law. Only one person can own a specific design at any given time. When a family grows, the head keeps the original shield while other relatives must apply for their own distinct version with slight changes to prove their specific identity.
Granting authority
The Court of the Lord Lyon acts as the official body that regulates and controls all heraldic matters throughout Scotland.
How they got arms
Individuals obtain a legal right to their arms through a formal petition process that confirms their identity and family connection.
Where arms were recorded
All valid coats of arms are officially entered into the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings starting from 1672.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Scotland.
Origin & History of the Bonny Family in Scotland
The surname Bonny has deep roots in the linguistic landscape of Scotland, where it likely originated as a descriptive nickname. The name is derived from the Middle English word "bonny," which means beautiful, pleasant, or attractive in appearance. In the mid-eighteenth century, the family established a notable presence in Edinburgh, a city that was then undergoing a period of significant intellectual and social growth known as the Scottish Enlightenment. By 1748, records indicate that individuals bearing this name were integrated into the urban fabric of the capital, likely participating in the trades and professional life that defined the city during that era. While the name began as a way to identify a person based on their cheerful or handsome character, it eventually became a fixed family identifier passed down through generations of Scottish residents.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
bonus
Latin term meaning good or virtuous.
This name
BonnyDerived from a nickname for a pleasant, attractive, or good-natured person.
also spelled
Bonney
Boney
Bonie
Bonys
Related arms
Bonneyvariant spelling
Bonysvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Black, George Fraser, The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History, 1946
National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh Register of Testaments, 1748
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sickleThe harvest, and the reaping of what was sown
sickleThe harvest, and the reaping of what was sown
