Map of Wales showing where the Bonsall arms are recorded
The Bonsall arms were recorded in Cardigan, c. 1647.
Cardiganshire was west Welsh coastal country of small farms and coastal trade. Its landed families were modest and numerous, and each holding brought its own claim to arms.
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 Wales in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Wales when the Bonsall arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Wales
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Cardigan.
Origin & History of the Bonsall Family in Wales
The surname Bonsall is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or personal characteristic. It is derived from the village of Bonsall in Derbyshire, England, where the family likely resided before spreading to other regions. By the mid-seventeenth century, the name had established a firm presence in Wales, specifically in the county of Cardigan by 1647. During this era, families often moved to follow economic opportunities or shifting political landscapes. The Bonsall family became notable landowners and figures in local administration within Cardigan, integrating themselves into the social fabric of the region. Their transition from the English Midlands to the Welsh coast highlights the mobility of families during the seventeenth century as they sought to build new legacies in different parts of the British Isles.
Bonsall Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Boneshall
A dwelling or hall belonging to a person named Bone.
This name
BonsallDerived from a locational surname referring to a residence situated in a valley or hall.
also spelled
Bonsell
Bonsel
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Charles Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
National Library of Wales, Bonsall Family of Glanrheidol Papers, 1647–1900
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
bordureA difference between branches of one family
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
bordureA difference between branches of one family
