List of mottos

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

An example of a motto, Te mauri, te raoi ao te tabomoa (Health, peace and prosperity) on the Coat of arms of Kiribati

This list contains the mottos of organizations, institutions, municipalities and authorities.

Organizations[edit]

National mottos[edit]

Cultural, philanthropic and scientific[edit]

Public service and youth service[edit]

Police and public safety[edit]

Sport and competition[edit]

International organisations[edit]

Africa and Asia[edit]

Americas[edit]

Australia[edit]

Europe[edit]

United Kingdom[edit]

Politics[edit]

Heritage and historical[edit]

Religion[edit]

Business[edit]

Medieval nobility[edit]

Famous mottos, usually deliberately cryptic, adopted during the age of chivalry and courtly love by great noblemen and ladies include:

Dynasties[edit]

Families[edit]

Medical[edit]

Other[edit]

Military and governmental[edit]

Orders and decorations[edit]

Canada[edit]

Europe[edit]

Holy See[edit]

United Kingdom[edit]

Municipalities[edit]

Australia[edit]

New South Wales[edit]

Northern Territory[edit]

Queensland[edit]

  • Brisbane: Meliora sequimur (We aim for better things)

South Australia[edit]

  • Adelaide: Ut Prosint Omnibus Conjuncti (United for the common good)

Tasmania[edit]

  • Hobart: Sic Fortis Hobartia Crevit (Thus, in force, Hobart grew)

Victoria[edit]

  • Melbourne: Vires Acquirit Eundo (She acquires strength as she goes)

Western Australia[edit]

Canada[edit]

British Columbia[edit]

  • Kamloops Salus et Opes (Health and abundance)

Manitoba[edit]

New Brunswick[edit]

  • Saint John: O Fortunati Quorum Jam Moenia Surgunt (O fortunate ones whose walls are now rising / O happy they, whose promised walls already rise)

Nova Scotia[edit]

  • Halifax: E Mari Merces (Wealth from the sea)

Alberta

Ontario[edit]

  • Hamilton: Together Aspire, Together Achieve
  • Ottawa: Advance Ottawa
  • Toronto: Diversity Our Strength
  • Sarnia: Sarnia Semper (Sarnia Always)

Quebec[edit]

Saskatchewan[edit]

  • Regina: Floreat Regina (Let Regina flourish)

Europe[edit]

  • Amsterdam: Dutch: Heldhaftig, Vastberaden, Barmhartig (Valiant, Steadfast, Compassionate)
  • Bordeaux: Lilia sola regunt lunam undas castra leonem (The fleur-de-lis alone rules over the moon, the waves, the castle, and the lion)
  • Brescia: Brixia fidelis (Brescia faithful)
  • Bruges: S.P.Q.B.
  • Bucharest: Romanian: Patria și Dreptul Meu (The Homeland and my right)
  • Douglas: Manx: Kiannoortys cheusthie jeh Kiannoortys (Government within a government)
  • Frankfurt: German: Stark im Recht (Strong in justice)
  • Gdańsk: Nec temere, nec timide (Neither rashly nor timidly)
  • Gdynia: Polish: Gdynia—miasto z morza i marzeń (Gdynia—a city built of sea and dreams)
  • Genoa: Libertas (Liberty)
  • Kaunas: Diligite justitiam qui judicatis terram (Love justice, landlords)
  • Łódź: Ex navicula navis (Big boat out of a small one)
  • Madrid: Spanish: Fui sobre agua edificada, mis muros de fuego son. Esta es mi insignia y blasón (On water I was built, My walls are made of fire, this is my ensign and escutcheon)
  • Marseille: Actibus immensis urbs fulget Massiliensis (By her great deeds, Marseille shines in the world)
  • Nancy, France: Non inultus premor (I'm not touched with impunity)
  • Nantes: Favet Neptunus Eunti (Neptune favours the traveller)
  • Nice: Nicaea Civitas (City of Nice)
  • Oporto, Portugal: Antiga, mui nobre e sempre leal, Invicta cidade do Porto (Antique, highly noble, always faithful, unvanquished Oporto City)
  • Paris: Fluctuat nec mergitur (Tossed by the waves, she does not founder)
  • Prague: Praga caput rei publicae (Prague, head of the republic). Formerly: Praga caput regnum (Prague, head of the kingdom)
  • Rotterdam: Dutch: Sterker door strijd (Stronger by struggle)
  • Seville: Spanish: No me ha dejado (written NO8DO) (It [Seville] has not abandoned me)
  • Sofia: Raste, no ne staree (Bulgarian: Grows, but does not age)
  • The Hague: Dutch: Vrede en recht (Peace and Justice)
  • Toulon: Concordia parva crescunt (Small things increase by concord)
  • Toulouse: Occitan: Per Tolosa totjorn mai (For Toulouse, always more)
  • Valletta: Italian: Città Umilissima (The most humble city)
  • Vilnius: Unitas, Justitia, Spes (Unity, justice, hope)
  • Warsaw: Contemnit procellas (It defies the storms), Semper invicta (Always invincible)
  • Żebbuġ, Malta: Semper Virens (Evergreen)

Indonesia[edit]

  • Jakarta: Jaya Raya (Victory and glorious)
  • Bandung: Gemah Ripah Wibawa Mukti (rich soil, prosperous people)
    Rarasing Rasa Wiwaraning Praja, a Javanese sengkala, (referring to the year of 1966), people's harmonious feeling for entering a gate of prosperity
  • Karawang: Pangkal Perjuangan (Struggle starting point)
  • Bali: Bali Dwipa Jaya (Glorious Bali Island)
  • Aceh : Pancacita (Five purposes)

India[edit]

  • Kolkatta (Calcutta): Purosree Bibardhan (Bengali: Progress of the city)
  • Mumbai: Yato Dharmastato Jaya (यतो धर्मस्ततो जय) (Sanskrit: Where there is righteousness, there shall be victory). Pre-independence motto: Urbs Primis in Indis (India's first city)
  • Kerala: Ever To Be The Best (Tolins World School)
  • Tamil Nadu வாய்மையே வெல்லும் (Tamil) (Truth alone triumphs)

Republic of Ireland[edit]

  • Cork: Statio Bene Fida Carinis (A safe harbour for ships)
  • Dublin: Obedientia Civium Urbis Felicitas (Happy the city where citizens obey)
  • Dún Laoghaire: Ó Chuan go Sliabh (From the harbour to the mountain)
  • Limerick: Urbs Antiqua Fuit Studiisque Asperrima Belli (An ancient city well versed in the arts of war)
  • Waterford: Urbs Intacta Manet Waterfordia (Waterford remains the untaken city)

Latin America[edit]

New Zealand[edit]

  • Auckland: Advance[7]
  • Christchurch: Fide Condita, Fructu Beata, Spe Fortis (Founded in Faith, Rich in the Fulfillment thereof, Strong in Hope for the Future).
  • Dunedin: Maiorum Institutis Utendo (By following in the footsteps of our forefathers)
  • Nelson, New Zealand: Palmam qui meruit ferat (Let him, who has earned it, bear the palm)
  • Wellington: Suprema a Situ (Supreme by position)

United Kingdom[edit]

England[edit]

Berkshire[edit]
Buckinghamshire[edit]
Cambridgeshire[edit]
Cheshire[edit]
  • Chester: Antiqiui Colant Antiquum Dierum (Let the ancients worship the ancient of days)[11]
  • Borough of Halton: Industria Navem Implet (Industry fills the ship)[12]
  • Runcorn: Navem Mercibus Implere (Fill the ship with goods)[13]
  • Widnes: Industria Ditat (Industry enriches)[14]
City of London[edit]
  • Domine dirige nos (Lord direct us)[15]
Devon[edit]
  • Exeter: Semper Fidelis (Always faithful)[16]
  • Plymouth: Turris Fortissima est Nomen Jehova (The strongest tower is the name of Jehovah)[16]
  • Torquay: Salus et Felicitas (Health and happiness)[16]
Essex[edit]
Gloucestershire[edit]
Greater London[edit]
Greater Manchester[edit]
Hampshire[edit]
Hertfordshire[edit]
Kent[edit]
Lancashire[edit]
Leicestershire[edit]
Lincolnshire[edit]
  • Mablethorpe: Amoeniora Litora Nostra (Our shores are more delightful) [1]
Merseyside[edit]
  • Liverpool: Deus Nobis Haec Otia Fecit (God hath granted us this ease)[19]
Norfolk[edit]
Northumbria[edit]
Suffolk[edit]
Surrey[edit]
Sussex[edit]
West Midlands[edit]
Yorkshire[edit]
  • Bradford: Progress, Industry, Humanity[21]
  • Calderdale: Industria Arte Prudentia (Industry, Skill, Foresight)[22]
  • Leeds: Pro Rege et Lege (For the king and the law)[23]
  • Rotherham: By Industry and Honour[24]
  • Sheffield: Deo Adjuvante, Labor Proficit (With God's help, our work is successful)[25]
  • Wakefield: Persevere and Prosper[26]
  • Yorkshireman's Motto: 'Ear all, see all, say nowt;Eyt all, sup all, pay nowt;And if ivver tha does owt fer nowt –Allus do it fer thissen.[11]

Scotland[edit]

  • Aberdeen: French: Bon Accord ( Good agreement)[27]
  • Arbroath: Propter libertatem (Latin: For Freedom)[28]
  • Braemar: Scots: Mak Siccar (Make sure)[29]
  • Clydebank: Labore et Scientia (By work and by knowledge)[30]
  • Dingwall: Salve corona[31]
  • Duns: Scots: Duns Dings Aw (Duns beats all)
  • East Kilbride: Prosper but Dreid
  • Edinburgh: Nisi Dominus frustra (Except the Lord [keep the city, the watchman waketh] in vain. Psalm 127)
  • Falkirk: Scots: Touch Ane, Touch Aw – Better meddle wi the Deil than the bairns o Fawkirk (Strike one, strike all – easier fight with the devil than the children of Falkirk)
  • Forfar: Ut quocunque paratus
  • Galashiels: Scots: Soor Ploums (Sour Plums)
  • Glasgow: Let Glasgow Flourish
  • Irvine: Tandem bona causa triumphat (The good cause triumphs in the end)
  • Jedburgh: Strenue et Prospere (With vigour and success)
  • Kelso: Scots: Dae Richt – Fear Nocht (Do right — fear nought)
  • Kinross: Scots: Siccar (Sure)
  • Lerwick: Dispecta est et Thule
  • Orkney Islands: Boreas domus mare amicus (Latin: The North our home, the sea our friend)[32]
  • Perth: Pro Rege, Lege et Grege (For the King, the Law and the People)
  • Port Glasgow: Ter et Quarter anno Revisens Aequor Atlanticum Impune (Three and four times a year revisiting the Atlantic with impunity)
  • Rosehearty: Scots: Tyauve awa Rosehearty (Strive always, Rosehearty)
  • St Andrews: Dum spiro spero (While I breathe I hope)
  • Selkirk: At spreta incolumem vita defendere famam
  • Shetland Islands: Norn: Með lögum skal land byggja (By law shall the land be built up)[33]
  • Thurso: Scots: Wark tae God (Walk towards God)

Northern Ireland[edit]

County Antrim[edit]
  • Antrim: Per Angusta ad Augusta
  • Ballyclare: Industria et Probitate (By work and integrity)
  • Ballymoney: Goodwill to all People
  • Belfast: Pro tanto quid retribuamus (What shall we give in return for so much)
  • Carrickfergus: Gloria Prisca Novatur (The glory of the Old made New)
  • Larne: Falce Marique Potens (Powerful With the Sickle and on the Sea)
  • Lisburn: Ex Igne Resurgam (I will arise from the fire)
  • Newtownabbey: Multi in uno resurgent (Multi in uno resurgent)
County Armagh[edit]
County Down[edit]
County Fermanagh[edit]
County Londonderry[edit]
  • Coleraine: Cuil Rathain
  • Limavady: Absit Invidia (Let there be no ill-will)
  • Derry: Vita, Veritas, Victoria (Life, truth, victory)
  • Magherafelt: Fide et Opera (With Faithfulness and Service)
  • Moyle:
County Tyrone[edit]

Wales[edit]

  • Cardiff: Y Ddraig Goch Ddyry Cychwyn (Welsh: The red dragon leads the way)
  • Merthyr Tydfil: Nid Cadern Ond Brodyrdde (Welsh: No strength but in fellowship)
  • Llandudno: Hardd Hafan Hedd (Welsh: Beautiful haven of peace)
  • Newport: Terra Marique (By land and sea)

United States[edit]

California[edit]

Florida[edit]

Illinois[edit]

  • Chicago: Urbs In Horto (City in a garden)

Indiana[edit]

Iowa[edit]

  • State of Iowa: Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain

Kentucky[edit]

  • Campbellsville: Urbs progrediens media in civitate (City in the middle of the commonwealth)

Massachusetts[edit]

  • Commonwealth of Massachusetts: Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem (By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty)
  • Boston: Sicut patribus sit deus nobis (God be with us as He was with our fathers)
  • Somerville: Municipal Freedom Gives National Strength

Maryland[edit]

Michigan[edit]

  • Detroit: Speramus meliora; resurget cineribus (We hope for better things; it will rise from the ashes)
  • Grand Rapids: Motu Viget (strength in activity)

Minnesota[edit]

North Carolina[edit]

Ohio[edit]

Oregon[edit]

Pennsylvania[edit]

  • Philadelphia: Philadelphia maneto (Let brotherly love continue)

Texas[edit]

Virginia[edit]

British counties[edit]

England[edit]

Traditional[edit]

Ceremonial[edit]

Former[edit]

Scotland[edit]

Wales[edit]

Traditional[edit]

  • Anglesey: Welsh: Môn Mam Cymru (Anglesey mother of Wales)
  • Brecknock: Welsh: Undeb Hedd Llwyddiant (Unity, peace, prosperity)
  • Caernarfon: Welsh: Cadernid Gwynedd (The strength of Gwynedd)
  • Carmarthen: Welsh: Rhyddid gwerin ffyniant gwlad (A free people a prosperous country)
  • Cardigan or Ceredigion: Welsh: Golud Gwlad Rhyddid (A nation's wealth is freedom)
  • Denbigh: Welsh: Duw â digon (God is sufficient)
  • Flint: Welsh: Gorau tarian, cyfiawnder (The best shield is justice)
  • Glamorgan: Welsh: A ddioddefws a orfu (He that endureth, overcometh)
  • Merioneth or Merionydd: Welsh: Tra Mor Tra Meirion (While the sea lasts, so shall Merionethshire)
  • Monmouth: Utrique fidelis (Faithful to both)
  • Montgomery: Welsh: Powys paradwys Cymru (Powys paradise of Wales)
  • Pembroke: Ex unitate vires (Out of unity is strength)
  • Radnor: Welsh: Ewch yn Uwch (Higher and higher)

Ceremonial[edit]

  • Clwyd: Welsh: Tarian cyfiawnder Duw (The shield of justice is God)
  • Dyfed: Welsh: Rhyddid Gwerin Ffyniant Gwlad (A free people, a prosperous country) – as Carmarthenshire
  • Gwent: Utrique fidelis (Faithful to both) – as Monmouthshire
  • Gwynedd: Welsh: Cadernid Gwynedd (The strength of Gwynedd) – as Caernarfonshire
  • Mid Glamorgan: Welsh: A Ddioddefws a Orfu (He who suffers, conquers) – as Glamorgan
  • Powys: Welsh: Undeb A Rhyddid (Unity and freedom)
  • South Glamorgan: Welsh: Y Ddinas a'r Fro (The city and the vale)
  • West Glamorgan: Welsh: Cardarn pob Cyfiawn (The just are strong)

Mottos of the Livery Companies of the City of London[edit]

Educational institutions[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Sagan". 5 January 2015.
  2. ^ "What is the United Church of Christ?". Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  3. ^ "Coast Guard History". United States Coast Guard. 2016-12-21.
  4. ^ "Pes meus stetit in directo – Heraldic motto". www.heraldry-wiki.com. Retrieved 2020-07-03.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Mackinnon of Dunakin, Charles (1968). Observer's Book of Heraldry. Frederick Warne & Co. retrieved 10 November 2013.
  6. ^ ""Calgary"".
  7. ^ David Thorns and Ben Schrader, 'City history and people – Towns to cities', Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/interactive/23508/civic-coats-of-arms (accessed 21 January 2019)
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Thames Valley and Chiltern Area". CivicHeraldry.co.uk. Robert Young. Retrieved 2016-11-10.
  9. ^ "Mayor of Wycombe". History of Wycombe's Swan. Mayor of Wycombe. Archived from the original on 2017-03-13. Retrieved 2016-11-10.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "East Anglia Essex". Civic Heraldry. Robert Young. Archived from the original on 2009-08-28. Retrieved 2016-11-10.
  11. ^ "Chester – Coat of arms (crest) of Chester". www.ngw.nl. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  12. ^ "Halton (England)". Heraldry of the World. 19 March 2019. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  13. ^ "Runcorn – Coat of arms (crest) of Runcorn". Heraldry of the World. Archived from the original on 2 March 2018. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  14. ^ "Widnes – Coat of arms". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad "Greater London". Civic Heraldry. Robert Young. Retrieved 2016-12-28.
  16. ^ a b c "Cornwall and Wessex". Civic Heraldry. Robert Young. Archived from the original on 2016-11-20. Retrieved 2016-12-10.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "Cumbria and the Palatine Counties". Civic Heraldry. Robert Young. Retrieved 2016-11-10.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa "Weald and Downs". Civic Heraldry. Robert Young. Retrieved 2016-12-28.
  19. ^ "Liverpool (England)". www.ngw.nl. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
  20. ^ "Governance and Locality in the Age of Reform: Birmingham, 1769-1852, p.203" (PDF). Retrieved 2021-12-22.
  21. ^ "Bradford". www.ngw.nl. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
  22. ^ "Calderdale's coat of arms". www.calderdale.gov.uk. Retrieved 2018-04-21.
  23. ^ "Leeds". www.ngw.nl. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
  24. ^ "Rotherham". www.ngw.nl. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
  25. ^ "Sheffield". www.ngw.nl. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
  26. ^ "Wakefield". www.ngw.nl. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
  27. ^ "Aberdeen". www.ngw.nl. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
  28. ^ "Arbroath". www.ngw.nl. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
  29. ^ "Braemar". www.ngw.nl. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
  30. ^ "Clydebank". www.ngw.nl. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
  31. ^ "Dingwall". www.ngw.nl. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
  32. ^ "Orkney". www.ngw.nl. Retrieved 2017-01-26.
  33. ^ "Shetland". www.ngw.nl. Retrieved 2017-01-26.
  34. ^ "About City Hall". City of Alameda. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  35. ^ Haydu, Lee (November 19, 2014). Letter to John Laird. City of Del Mar, California http://www.opc.ca.gov/webmaster/ftp/pdf/agenda_items/20141202/Item-6-PublicComment.pdf. Retrieved May 14, 2018. {{cite press release}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  36. ^ "City Seal and Flag". City of Monterey, California. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  37. ^ ""Business Climate Best by Government Test" City Puts a Spotlight on Economic Development". Redwood City. October 31, 2011. Archived from the original on February 13, 2015. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
  38. ^ "State Symbols: Hydropower to Motto". Oregon Blue Book. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  39. ^ "City Slogan". City of Portland. City of Portland Archives & Records Management. Retrieved 13 October 2017.

External links[edit]