A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bonville family of Ireland.
Reg. 0317 · Irish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Per pale ar. and or”
Irelandc. 1645
Where the Bonville Arms Were Recorded
Dublin
Map of Ireland showing where the Bonville arms are recorded
The Bonville arms were recorded in Ireland, c. 1645.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Dublin.
Dublin was the seat of government in Ireland and the place where grants were sought and recorded. Families with business at the castle or the courts settled nearby, and settling there put their arms on record.
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 Ireland in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Ireland when the Bonville arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Ireland.
Origin & History of the Bonville Family in Ireland
The name Bonville is rooted in the linguistic traditions of medieval Europe, where it functioned as a locative surname derived from the French words for good and town. By the mid-seventeenth century, members of the family had established a presence in Dublin, a city that served as a vital hub for trade and administration in Ireland during the year 1645. At this time, Dublin was a place of significant political upheaval, and families living there were often involved in the complex social networks of the merchant class or the local government. The arrival of the Bonville name in Ireland reflects the broader movement of people across the Irish Sea, as individuals sought new opportunities in urban centers that were rapidly expanding. While the specific origins of the family in Dublin remain tied to these early records, the name itself represents a long history of migration and the adaptation of continental naming customs into the Irish landscape.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
de Bonavilla
Derived from the Latin words for good and town or estate.
This name
BonvilleRefers to an individual originating from a pleasant or good settlement or village.
also spelled
Bonevile
Related arms
Bonevilevariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
MacLysaght, Edward. The Surnames of Ireland. 1985
National Archives of Ireland. Civil Survey of the County of Dublin. 1654
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paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
