A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Sonier family of France.
Reg. 0074 · French, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur au chev., acc. en chef de trois étoiles et en p. d'un soleil, le tout d'or; et une mer d'arg., en p.”
Ile-de-FranceIle-de-France, c. 1663
Where the Sonier Arms Were Recorded
Ile-de-France
Map of France showing where the Sonier arms are recorded
The Sonier arms were recorded in Ile-de-France, c. 1663.
Ile-de-France is the country around Paris, and proximity to the court mattered. Families who served the crown were rewarded with land near it, and land near the capital carried arms almost as a matter of course.
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 France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Sonier arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Ile-de-France.
Origin & History of the Sonier Family in France
The surname Sonier finds its roots in the historical landscape of France, with documented evidence placing members of the family in the Ile-de-France region as early as 1663. The name is traditionally linked to the Old French word "sonier," which historically referred to a person who worked in the salt trade or managed a salt storehouse. During the seventeenth century, families often adopted surnames based on their specific trade or the goods they handled, making this a common way for the name to emerge among the working population. As these individuals settled in the heart of the kingdom near Paris, they became part of the social and economic fabric of the region. Over time, the family name spread as descendants moved throughout France and eventually to other parts of the world, carrying with them a history tied to the essential commerce of the era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
sonner
Old French verb meaning to sound or to ring.
This name
SonierAn occupational surname for a bell ringer or a town crier.
also spelled
Sonier
Sonnyer
Sonyea
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Archives nationales de France, Minutier central des notaires de Paris, Series Y
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
