Bonnenfant History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Bonnenfant

What does the name Bonnenfant mean?

Bonnenfant is a name whose history dates far back into the mists of early British times to the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes. It is a name for a person who was referred to as the bon enfant, and is equivalent to the English Goodchild. 1 2

"This name has been derived from Normandy, France, bel enfant, fine child." 3

Early Origins of the Bonnenfant family

The surname Bonnenfant was first found in Oxfordshire, where William Bonenfant, Bonenfaud was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls for 1207-1208. Later, Henry Bonefant was recorded in the Hundredorum Rolls for Berkshire in 1279 and in Sussex, John Bon Effaunt was registered in the Subsidy Rolls for 1332. In London, early records there show Roger Bonyfaunt in 1472 and in Suffolk, Henry Bolyvaunt was registered in the SubsidyRolls for 1524. 1

The Writs of Parliament lists William Bonenfannt, or Bonaffaunt, 1302. Another source note the following in the Hundredorum Rolls: Walter Bonenfant, Cambridgeshire; Bonenfant Judaus, Cambridgeshire; Henry Bonefant, Buckinghamshire; and John Bonefaunt, Oxfordshire. 4

Early History of the Bonnenfant family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bonnenfant research. Another 216 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1207, 1279, 1332, 1349, 1369, 1472, 1524, 1540, 1631, 1637, 1674 and 1707 are included under the topic Early Bonnenfant History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bonnenfant Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Bonnenfant has been recorded under many different variations, including Bonyfant, Bonifant, Bonenfant, Bonenfand, Bonefant, Bon Effaunt, Bonyfaunt, Bolyvaunt, Bonyvant and many more.

Early Notables of the Bonnenfant family

More information is included under the topic Early Bonnenfant Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bonnenfant Ranking

France, the name Bonnenfant is the 6,215^th most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 5

Migration of the Bonnenfant family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Bonnenfant or a variant listed above: a number of settlers who arrived in the New World by the 19th century.

Sources +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Charnock, Richard, Stephen, Ludus Patronymicus of The Etymology of Curious Surnames. London: Trubner & Co., 60 Paternoster Row, 1868. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/