List of mottos

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

National mottos

Cultural, philanthropic and scientific

Public service and youth service

Police and public safety

Sport and competition

International organisations

Africa and Asia

Americas

Australia

Europe

United Kingdom

Politics

Heritage and historical

Religion

Business

Medieval nobility

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

Dynasties

Families

Medical

Other

Military and governmental

Orders and decorations

Canada

Europe

Holy See

United Kingdom

Municipalities

Australia

New South Wales

Northern Territory

Queensland

South Australia

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

Tasmania

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

Victoria

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

Western Australia

Canada

British Columbia

Manitoba

New Brunswick

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

Nova Scotia

Alberta

Ontario

Quebec

Saskatchewan

Europe

  • Amsterdam: Dutch: Heldhaftig, Vastberaden, Barmhartig (Valiant, Steadfast, Compassionate)
  • Bordeaux: Latin: Lilia sola regunt lunam undas castra leonem (The fleur-de-lis alone rules over the moon, the waves, the castle, and the lion)
  • Brescia: Latin: Brixia fidelis (Brescia faithful)
  • Bruges: Latin: 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: Latin: 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: Latin: Libertas (Liberty)
  • Kaunas: Latin: Diligite justitiam qui judicatis terram (Love justice, landlords)
  • Łódź: Latin: 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: Latin: Actibus immensis urbs fulget Massiliensis (By her great deeds, Marseille shines in the world)
  • Nancy, France: Latin: Non inultus premor (I'm not touched with impunity)
  • Nantes: Latin: Favet Neptunus Eunti (Neptune favours the traveller)
  • Nice: Latin: Nicaea Civitas (City of Nice)
  • Oporto, Portugal: Portuguese: Antiga, mui nobre e sempre leal, Invicta cidade do Porto (Antique, highly noble, always faithful, unvanquished Oporto City)
  • Paris: Latin: Fluctuat nec mergitur (Tossed by the waves, she does not founder)
  • Prague: Latin: 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: Latin: 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: Latin: Unitas, Justitia, Spes (Unity, justice, hope)
  • Warsaw: Latin: Contemnit procellas (It defies the storms), Semper invicta (Always invincible)
  • Żebbuġ, Malta: Latin: Semper Virens (Evergreen)

Indonesia

  • 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

  • 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

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

Latin America

New Zealand

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

United Kingdom

England

Berkshire
Buckinghamshire
Cambridgeshire
Cheshire
  • Chester: Latin: Antiqiui Colant Antiquum Dierum (Let the ancients worship the ancient of days)
  • Borough of Halton: Latin: Industria Navem Implet (Industry fills the ship)
  • Runcorn: Latin: Navem Mercibus Implere (Fill the ship with goods)
  • Widnes: Latin: Industria Ditat (Industry enriches)
City of London
  • Latin: Domine dirige nos (Lord direct us)
Devon
  • Exeter: Latin: Semper Fidelis (Always faithful)
  • Plymouth: Latin: Turris Fortissima est Nomen Jehova (The strongest tower is the name of Jehovah)
  • Torquay: Latin: Salus et Felicitas (Health and happiness)
Essex
Gloucestershire
Greater London
Greater Manchester
Hampshire
Hertfordshire
Kent
Lancashire
Leicestershire
Lincolnshire
Merseyside
  • Liverpool: Latin: Deus Nobis Haec Otia Fecit (God hath granted us this ease)
Norfolk
Northumbria
Suffolk
Surrey
Sussex
West Midlands
Yorkshire
  • Bradford: Progress, Industry, Humanity
  • Calderdale: Latin: Industria Arte Prudentia (Industry, Skill, Foresight)
  • Leeds: Latin: Pro Rege et Lege (For the king and the law)
  • Rotherham: By Industry and Honour
  • Sheffield: Latin: Deo Adjuvante, Labor Proficit (With God's help, our work is successful)
  • Wakefield: Persevere and Prosper
  • 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

  • Aberdeen: French: Bon Accord ( Good agreement)
  • Arbroath: Propter libertatem (Latin: For Freedom)
  • Braemar: Scots: Mak Siccar (Make sure)
  • Clydebank: Latin: Labore et Scientia (By work and by knowledge)
  • Dingwall: Salve corona
  • Duns: Scots: Duns Dings Aw (Duns beats all)
  • East Kilbride: Prosper but Dreid
  • Edinburgh: Nisi Dominus frustra (Latin: 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: Latin: Tandem bona causa triumphat (The good cause triumphs in the end)
  • Jedburgh: Latin: 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)
  • Perth: Latin: Pro Rege, Lege et Grege (For the King, the Law and the People)
  • Port Glasgow: Latin: 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: Latin: 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)
  • Thurso: Scots: Wark tae God (Walk towards God)

Northern Ireland

County Antrim
  • Antrim: Per Angusta ad Augusta
  • Ballyclare: Latin: Industria et Probitate (By work and integrity)
  • Ballymoney: Goodwill to all People
  • Belfast: Latin: Pro tanto quid retribuamus (What shall we give in return for so much)
  • Carrickfergus: Latin: Gloria Prisca Novatur (The glory of the Old made New)
  • Larne: Latin: Falce Marique Potens (Powerful With the Sickle and on the Sea)
  • Lisburn: Latin: Ex Igne Resurgam (I will arise from the fire)
  • Newtownabbey: Latin: Multi in uno resurgent (Multi in uno resurgent)
County Armagh
County Down
  • Ards: Latin: Fidelis atque Fortis (Faithful and Brave)
  • Bangor: Beannchor
  • Banbridge: Latin: Per Deum et Industriam (By God and Industry)
  • East Down: Ever looking forward
  • Newtownards: Fidelis atque Fortis
County Fermanagh
County Londonderry
County Tyrone

Wales

  • 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

California

Florida

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

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

Kentucky

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

Massachusetts

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

Maryland

Michigan

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

Minnesota

North Carolina

Ohio

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Texas

Virginia

British counties

England

Traditional

Ceremonial

Former

Scotland

Wales

Traditional

  • 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: Latin: Utrique fidelis (Faithful to both)
  • Montgomery: Welsh: Powys paradwys Cymru (Powys paradise of Wales)
  • Pembroke: Latin: Ex unitate vires (Out of unity is strength)
  • Radnor: Welsh: Ewch yn Uwch (Higher and higher)

Ceremonial

  • 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: Latin: 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

Educational institutions

See also


This page was last updated at 2023-11-10 03:30 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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