Bonett History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
France
Germany

The name Bonett evolved in ancient Germany in the state of Bavaria. It is a patronymic name. Patronymics are derived from the given name of the father of the bearer. Names derived from the name of the mother of the bearer, which are less common, are called metronymic names. Patronymic names were generally formed from traditional, German given names, rather than the names of saints or biblical figures, as is the custom in many other European cultures. Bonett comes from the Latin personal name Bonitus, a derivative of the word bonus, which means good. The name was originally a French occupational name for a milliner, or a nickname for a wearer of unusual headgear, derived from the Old French word bonnet, which means bonnet or hat. However, the name spread to Bavaria during the 16th and 17th centuries, a period of widespread European migration. The Bonett family emerged as a noble family in Bavaria and it had numerous distinguished branches. Furthermore, the Bonett family become noted for its involvement in the social, economic and political development of the region.

Early Origins of the Bonett family

The surname Bonett was first found in Bavaria, where the name Bonnet was closely identified in early mediaeval times with the feudal society of early European history. The name would later emerge as a noble family with great influence, having many distinguished branches, and become noted for its involvement in social, economic and political affairs.

Early History of the Bonett family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bonett research. Another 50 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1720, 1743, 1754 and 1793 are included under the topic Early Bonett History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bonett Spelling Variations

In the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era. Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The spelling variations of the name Bonett include Bonnet, Bonnett, Bonett, Bonnette, Bonette and many more.

Early Notables of the Bonett family

Prominent among members of the name Bonett in this period include Charles Bonnet (1720-1793), Swiss naturalist and philosophical writer. Although he chose law as his profession, his first love was natural science, publishing several...
Another 34 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bonett Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bonett migration to the United States +

Between the mid-17th and mid-20th centuries, German settlers arrived in North America by the thousands. Persecution based on religion and poverty were great motivators in this large-scale migration. So too was the opportunity for tenant farmers to own their own land. Ample land and opportunity awaited the settlers who went to such states as Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California, as well as Ontario and the prairie provinces of Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Bonett or a variant listed above:

Bonett Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Magdalena Bonett, aged 1, who settled in America, in 1905
Maria Bonett, aged 19, who landed in America, in 1905
Johannes Bonett, aged 9, who immigrated to the United States, in 1905
Rebecka Bonett, aged 4, who immigrated to the United States, in 1905
Samuel Bonett, aged 17, who landed in America, in 1905
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Bonett (post 1700) +

Shaun Bonett, Australian property developer
John Bonett (1906-1989), the pen name of John Hubert Arthur Coulson, an English author
Emery Bonett (1906-1995), the pen name of Felicity Winifred Carter, an English author and playwright