A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bonus family of England.
Reg. 6012 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Vert two bars gemelles three roses ar”
EnglandLondon, c. 1620
Where the Bonus Arms Were Recorded
London
Map of England showing where the Bonus arms are recorded
The Bonus arms were recorded in London, c. 1620.
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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Bonus arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
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 England.
Origin & History of the Bonus Family in England
The surname Bonus carries a history rooted in the Latin word for good, which likely served as a descriptive nickname for a person of kind character or high standing in their community. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Bonus family were established in London, placing them in the city during a period of significant social and economic change. During this era, families with this name were part of the growing urban population that navigated the bustling trade networks and shifting religious landscape of seventeenth-century England. As the name appears in parish registers and local administrative documents from this time, it suggests that these early ancestors were integrated into the daily life of the capital. Their presence in London during the early seventeenth century highlights the family’s long-standing connection to the development of English society and the movement of people into the city to pursue new opportunities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bonus
Latin adjective meaning good, virtuous, or excellent.
This name
BonusA nickname or occupational name denoting a good or honest person.
also spelled
Bonous
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
London Metropolitan Archives, St. Dunstan in the East Parish Registers, 1620
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
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roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
