Mottoes
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Main languages: |
MOTTOES USED IN CIVIC HERALDRY
Mottoes are very common in the British-style heraldry (UK, Australia, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand), and much less common in other countries. Therefore the large majority of the mottoes listed here are from towns and councils in the British heraldic region.
As this page got too large, mottoes in the following languages are separated :
If you see a motto on the site that is not yet listed here or have any other addition, please mail me !
Only true mottoes are listed here, no town names in banners around the arms.
The mottoes are listed by language and sorted by first letter. For clarity no capital letters are used, except the first letter as well as personal or town names. A translation in English is provided when available.
Mottoes in Greek
Mottoes with ancient or modern Greek as the original language.
| Motto | Translation in English | Used by |
| ΑΙΕΝ ΑΡΣΤΕΥΕΙΝ | Ever to excel | National Defence General Staff, Grecce |
| ΑΙΕΝ ΥΨΙΚΡΑΤΕΙΝ | Always dominate the heights | Hellenic Air Force General Staff, Greek Air Force |
| ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΟΝ ΤΟ ΕΥΨΥΧΟΝ | Freedom stems from valour | Hellenic Army General Staff, Greek Army |
| ΜΕΓΑ ΤΟ ΤΗΣ ΘΑΛΑΣΣΗΣ ΚΡΑΤΟΣ (Méga to ti̱s thalássi̱s krátos) | The rule of the sea is indeed a great matter | Hellenic Navy General Staff, Greek Navy |
| ΘΑΛΑΣΣΑ ΚΛΥΖΕΙ ΠΑΝΤΑ ΤΑΝΘΡΩΠΩΝ ΚΑΚΑ | Tenby |
Mottoes in Spanish
Mottoes with Spanish as the original language.
| Motto | Translation in English | Used by |
| Aqui dios, fuerte y claro | Signal Company No 6 of the Parachute Brigade, Spanish Army | |
| Ciencia al servicio del hombre | Science in the service of man | Meteorological Service, Air Force of Venezuela |
| Con este palo me basto | Ceuta General Command, Spanish Army | |
| Cuna del descubrimiento | Palos de la Frontera | |
| Dios, unión, libertad | God, union, liberty | El Salvador |
| Especiales en la guerra y en la paz | Specialists in war and in peace | Special Operations Air Group No 15, Air Force of Venezuela |
| Ingenio y grandeza | Signal Company No 17, Spanish Army | |
| Lealtatem | Loyalty | Presidental Air Group No 4, Air Force of Venezuela |
| Libertad y soberania | Liberty and sovereignty | Air Transport Group No 9, Air Force of Venezuela |
| Lucha y vence entre dos ríos | Palma del Río | |
| Más vale honra sin barcos ... | Frigate Méndez Nuñez, Spanish Navy | |
| Nuestro enemigo es el silencio | Our enemy is the silence | Electronic Warfare Regiment No 31, Spanish Army |
| Paso honroso | Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, Spanish Air Force | |
| Patria honor lealtad | Country, honour, loyalty | Colombian Army |
| Poder y sabiduria | Signal Company No 18, Spanish Army | |
| Por la exelencia a la victoria | Signal Regiment No 1, Spanish Army | |
| Rey servido y patria honorada | Serve the king and honour the fatherland | Frigate Álvaro de Bazán, Spanish Navy |
| Segura tiene la palma | Naval Command of Las Palmas, Spanish Navy | |
| Sobre todo ¡España! | Frigate Almirante Juan de Borbón, Spanish Navy | |
| Tejemos la red | Signal Battalion of the Air Defence Command, Spanish Army | |
| Unidad, paz, justicia | Unity, peace, justice | Equatorial Guinea |
| Vencer o morir | Win or die | Air Force of Paraguay, Navy of Paraguay |
| Voz permanente del mado | Permanent voice of command | Signal Regiment No 22, Spanish Army |
Mottoes in Welsh
Mottoes with Welsh as the original language.
| Motto | Translation in English | Used by |
| A ddioddefws a orfu | He who suffered, conquered | Glamorgan, Mid Glamorgan |
| A fynno Duw a fydd | Cowbridge RDC | |
| A vo penn bit pont | He who will be chief, let him be a bridge | Bridgend |
| Amser yw'n golud | Ystradgynlais | |
| Awn rhagom | Cowbridge | |
| Cadarn pob cyfiawn | The just are strong | West Glamorgan |
| Cadernid cyfiawndr cynndd | Stability, justice, progress | Barry |
| Canmol dy fro a thrig yno | Commend thy locality and dwell therein | Brecon |
| Cyfoeth cymdeithas: cymuned | A society's wealth is its community | Llanelli |
| Cynyddaf a llawenychaf | I grow and I rejoice | Prestatyn |
| Dawn gorau dyngarwch | A nation's wealth is freedom | Ceredigion |
| Diogel dan ddinefwr | Safe under Dinefwr | Dinefwr |
| Duw a digon | With God, enough | Denbighshire |
| Duwioldeb diwydrwydd | Godliness and industry | Port Talbot Borough, Port Talbot |
| Ewch yn uwch | Higher and higher | Radnorshire, Radnorshire District Council |
| Gorau gweithio-cyd weithio | The best service is co-operation | Maesteg |
| Golud gwlad rhydidd | A nation's wealth is freedom | Ceredigion |
| Gorau moes gwasanaeth | The best way of life is service | Aberystwyth Borough |
| Gorau nawwd, nawwd duw | Hawarden | |
| Gorau tarian cyfiawnder | The best shield is justice | Flintshire, Islwyn |
| Gwasanaeth a gwerin | Alyn and Deeside | |
| Gwella braint heb golli bro | Vaynor and Penderyn | |
| Gwerth cyngor gwasanaeth | The virtue of a council is its service | Glyndŵr |
| Gwirionedd undod a chytgord | University of Cardiff | |
| Hanfod tref trefn | The essential of a good town is orderliness | Ammanford |
| Hwy clod na golud | Fame outlasts wealth | Rhondda |
| Iechyd ac addysg | Health and learning | Ebbw Vale |
| Iechyd harddwch heddwch | Health, beauty, tranquillity | Colwyn, Colwyn Bay |
| Llafur orfu bobpeth | Hard work conquers everything | Taff-Ely |
| Llifa'r dwr, llewyrcha'r bobl | Brecknock RDC | |
| Llywyddiant o ddiwydiant | Connah's Quay | |
| Llywyddiant trwy undeb | Success through union | Cynon Valley |
| Llywyddo drwy ymdrech | Succeeding through endeavour | Neath and Port Talbot |
| Mon mam Cynru | Anglesey, Mother of Wales | Isle of Anglesey |
| Nid cadern ond brodyrdde | No strength but in fellowship | Merthyr Tydfil |
| Nid da lle gellir gwell | Lliw Valley | |
| Powys paradwys cymru | Powys, the paradise of Wales | Powys |
| Rhydd gwerni ffyniant gwlad | A free people a prosperous country | Carmarthenshire, Dyfed |
| Rhyddid hedd a llwyddint | Freedom, peace and prosperity | Carmarthen |
| Tarian cyfiawnder duw | The shield of justice is God | Clwyd |
| Tra mor tra meirion | Merionethshire | |
| Undeb a rhyddid | Unity and freedom | Blaenau Gwent |
| Undeb hedd llwyddiant | Unity, peace, success | Brecknock, Brecknockshire |
| Undod cadernid cynndd | Unity Strength Progress | Vale of Glamorgan |
| Unwn i wneud da | Denbighshire | |
| Y ddinas a’r fro | The city and the vale | South Glamorgan |
| Ymlaen â Delyn | Forward with Delyn | Delyn |
| Yr hafan dêg ar fin y dôn | The fair haven at the edge of the waves | Rhyl |