A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bonvicini family of Italy.
Reg. 1847 · Italian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. à un arbre arr. de sin.; au chef d'or, ch. d'une aigle de sa., cour. d'or, soutenu d'un autre chef d'azur, ch. de trois B d'arg.”
ItalyBologne, c. 1775
Where the Bonvicini Arms Were Recorded
Bologne
Map of Italy showing where the Bonvicini arms are recorded
The Bonvicini arms were recorded in Bologne, c. 1775.
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 Italy in this period.
Alvise Giovanni Mocenigo
Sovereign of the period
Alvise Giovanni Mocenigo
1763–1778
Reigning in Italy when the Bonvicini arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Italy
In the Italian states, coats of arms were often used by noble families to show their status and history. These symbols were passed down through the generations to all legitimate male descendants. Younger branches of a family usually kept the original design but sometimes added small changes to distinguish their specific line from the main branch.
Granting authority
Various local rulers and city governments controlled the use of coats of arms across the different Italian states.
How they got arms
Families often assumed their own arms or received them as official grants from local lords, popes, or city councils.
Where arms were recorded
Arms were recorded in local city archives or private family books rather than in one single national register.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Italy.
Origin & History of the Bonvicini Family in Italy
The Bonvicini family name is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of the Emilia-Romagna region, with significant documentation placing the family in Bologna by the late eighteenth century. The name itself is derived from the Italian words "buono" and "vicino," which translate to "good neighbor." This suggests that the original bearers of the name were likely recognized for their helpful nature or their status as reliable members of their local community. By 1775, the family was well-established within the social and urban fabric of Bologna, a city known at the time for its thriving university culture and its role as a major center for trade and administration. During this period, families like the Bonvicinis were often involved in the professional or artisan classes that kept the city functioning, contributing to the growth of the region through their daily work and civic participation.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bonus
Latin term meaning good or virtuous.
This name
BonviciniDerived from a nickname meaning good neighbor or kind person.
also spelled
Bonviciny
Bonvicin
Bonvichini
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
De Felice, Emidio, Dizionario dei cognomi italiani, 1978
Fanti, Mario, Bologna nell'età moderna, 1993
Archivio di Stato di Bologna, Stato civile della Restaurazione
Archivio Storico Comunale di Bologna, Anagrafe storica
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chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
