The Bonnett surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 4,023 people carried this name — #8,239 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 73,500 people counted. That is up 4% from 3,855 in 2000.

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Where the name comes from

The origin of the Bonnett surname

As an English and Welsh surname

An early record he cites: Agnes Bonye, Oxfordshire, 1273 — Hundred Rolls.

His entry covers Bonnet, Bonnett, Bonney, Bonny, Bonnin, Bunnett and Bonnyson.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 118 · public domain.

In print

Bonnett in American newspapers,
1899–1916.

Newspaper page from Jamestown Weekly Alert carrying the name Bonnett
Jamestown Weekly Alert 1899-07-13
Newspaper page from The Colville Examiner carrying the name Bonnett
The Colville Examiner 1912-06-15
Newspaper page from St. Johnsbury Caledonian carrying the name Bonnett
St. Johnsbury Caledonian 1916-01-19

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain.

In print

Bonnett in Australian newspapers,
1850s–1990s.

6,451 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Bonnett. The most, 1,027, date from the 1930s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in New South Wales, at 1.3 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 2,649
Queensland 1,153
Victoria 1,114
South Australia 737
Western Australia 365
Tasmania 325
ACT (Canberra) 92
Northern Territory 1

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Bonnett.

Who carried it

People named Bonnett,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Peter Bonnett
    Peter Bonnett 1840–1910
  • Logie Bonnett
    Logie Bonnett 1889–1957 · cartoonist
  • Robert Bonnett
    Robert Bonnett 1916–1994 · politician
  • Orville Thomas Bonnett 1894–1981 · agronomist
  • Stanley Bonnett 1925– · writer
  • Bob Bonnett 1932–2018 · Australian rules football player

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Bonnett,
in the records of 8 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States322 records

322 records of the Bonnett name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 126
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 54
  • Other U.S. records 142
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Conrad A. Bonnett

    Born 1921 in Alabama. Enlisted 1943 at Fort McClellan; woodworker from Coosa County. U.S. Army Air Forces veteran of World War II; died 1997, buried at Forest Crest Cemetery, Birmingham, Alabama.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Sherl Kent Bonnett

    Born 1948; from Windham, Ohio. U.S. Marine Corps, rifleman; killed in action 1968 in Quang Nam, South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Mar Bonnett

    Arrived at New York in 1875 aboard the Manhattan from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 18; laborer. From Germany.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 322 records for Bonnett in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia129 records

129 records of the Bonnett name in Australia
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 52
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 38
  • Other Australian records 39
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record George Bonnett

    Transported to New South Wales aboard the Bengal Merchant, arriving 1836; certificate of freedom 1843.

    Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Ellen Bonnett

    Arrived in Queensland in 1875 aboard the Ophelia, aged 11.

    Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Frederick Bonnett

    Dairyman of Mepunga, Victoria; died 1935.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 129 records for Bonnett in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

Canada23 records

23 records of the Bonnett name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 13
  • City of Calgary cemetery records 2
  • Other Canadian records 8
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Eva Bonnett

    Buried in 1947 at Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia, aged 70.

    Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax.
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Joseph Bonnett

    Died 1971 in Riverton, Pictou, Nova Scotia, aged 91.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  3. A Canadian First World War grave register card for a soldier who died of wounds in 1917
    Example: Canadian war grave register, 1917
    War record Leonard Douglas Bonnett

    Died in service in 1944.

    Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada.

Showing 3 of 23 records for Bonnett in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Canadian First World War circumstances-of-death register (scan by Scottgraham87 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0).

United Kingdom11 records

11 records of the Bonnett name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 8
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 3
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Robt Bonnett

    Buried in 1810 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 23.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record W. J. Bonnett

    Lancashire Fusiliers. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1919.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Elizabeth Bonnett

    Buried in 1828 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 79.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Showing 3 of 11 records for Bonnett in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

New Zealand9 records

9 records of the Bonnett name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 7
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 1
  • Waimakariri District cemetery records, Canterbury 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Margaret Bonnett

    Died 1934, aged 67; buried at Sydenham Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Ronald James Bonnett

    Born 1938, died 1998; buried at Rangiora Lawn Cemetery, Canterbury.

    Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Jessie Bonnett

    Died 1953, aged 40; buried at Ruru Lawn, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 9 records for Bonnett in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Netherlands4 records

4 records of the Bonnett name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 3
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 1
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record John William Bonnett

    Died 1907 in 's-Gravenzande, aged 25.

    Open Archives, Historisch Archief Westland (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Civil record Robert Bonnett

    Baptised in 1775 in Nijmegen.

    Open Archives, Regionaal Archief Nijmegen (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Civil record Samuel Augustus Bonnett

    Baptised in 1768 in Nijmegen.

    Open Archives, Regionaal Archief Nijmegen (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 4 records for Bonnett in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

France2 records

2 records of the Bonnett name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Emanuel Bonnett

    Born 1928 in Malta; died 1990 in Poitiers (Vienne).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Fernande Marie Jeanne Bonnett

    Born 1894 in Ria-Sirach; died 1996 in Prades (Pyrénées-Orientales).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Germany2 records

2 records of the Bonnett name in Germany Germany's First World War casualty lists, 1914–1919
  1. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Karl Bonnett

    From Gollin, Soldin. Reported wounded in the Prussian casualty list of 14 November 1918.

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)

Showing 1 of 2 records for Bonnett in Germany.

Counts: Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Deutsche Verlustlisten, Prussian list 1116, 18 April 1918 (scan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Bonnett.

When the index is not enough

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