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

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

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