Clan mottoes...

[CaptMac]

Hi Colin,
A slight correction.

MacKenzie Clan mottos:
Luceo Non Uro - I shine, not burn(MacKenzies of Seaforth)
Cuidich' n' Righ - Save the King (MacKenzies of Kintail & Seaforth Highlanders)
Tulach Ard (the Battle cry)
__________________Sandy "CaptMac" MacKenzie

[Carolina Kiltman]

202 posts! And I am not included!

Clan Maclaine of Lochbuie

Vincere vel Mori
Victory or Death (perhaps Win or Die Trying?)

[Sionnach]

"Be Traist" (Be faithful) Clan Innes- Mitchell family
"Favente Deo supero" (By God's favor I conquer)- Mitchell family crest (father's side)
"Vi et Animo" (By strength and courage)- Clan McCulloch (mother's side)

[Sionnach]

I guess I am late to the party here.

[Phogfan86]

Clan Macdhuibh (Macduff) and families of Clan Macdhuibh

MacDuff: Deus Juvat (God assists); Virtute et opera (By virtue and by industry)

Duff: Deus Juvat (God assists); Virtute et opera (By virtue and by industry); Deo Juvante (By God’s assistance); Omnia fortunae committo (I commit all things to fortune); Deus Juvavit (God has assisted)

Earl of Fife: Virtute et opera (By virtue and by industry); Deo Juvante (By God’s Assistance)

Abernathy: Salus per Christum (Salvation through Christ)

Fyffe of Dron: Decens et honestum (Becoming and honorable)

Kilgour: Gradatim (By degrees)

Fernie: Quieacens et vigilans (Resting and waking)

Spens (of Lathallan): Si Deus, quis contra? (God with us, who against?)

Spence: Si Deus, quis contra? (God with us, who against?); (Spence or Kerbuster), Do good; Constantia et diligentia (By perseverence and diligence); Virtus acquirt honorem ("Virtue procures honor); Virtute aciquiritur honos (Honor is acquired by virtue); Visa per invisafirma (Things seen are established by things unseen); Erectus non elatus (Exalted but not elated);

Spense: Courage et L’Ecosse (Courage and Scotland) (Spense was a General serving the Queen of Bohemia)

Wemyss: Je pense (I think")

Earl of Wemyss & March: Je pense (I think)

Randall: Nil extra nemerum (Nothing out of time)

Kinnimond, Kininmonth: Stabo (I shall stand)

Whitelaw: Solertia ditat (Prudence enriches)

Trail: Discrimine Salus (Safety in danger)(Trail was a victim of a shipwreck in 1418. He escaped death by clinging to a rock out in the sea).

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

MacMillan charging with arms gorey,
Woe! with whom you deal.
There's venom in your hatred,
Your friendship is like steel.

This is translated from a much longer 16th century poem, in Gaelic, and it is from the last line that my branch of the family takes its motto:

Amicitia Similis Ferrum

It is interesting that in all three languages "ferrum" can also be translated as "sword", a prominent feature in MacMillan crests.

The motto of our Chief, and that displayed on his clansmen's badges is Miseris Succurrere Disco, literally "I succor the distressed". While this may sound very altruistic, I have often thought (given the crest-- two hands brandishing a claymore) that it more likely alludes to something akin to the "I'll Mak Siccar" motto of the Kirkpatricks of Closeburn-- perhaps referencing some deed during the 14th century when the MacMillans were allied with the MacDonald Lords of the Isles.

[Matty Ross]

CLAN ROSS

SPEM SUCCESSUS ALIT

SUCCESS NOURISHES HOPE

[Don]

The Clan Muir motto is:

Durham Patencia Frango or Patience Overcomes Difficulty

I'm quite pleased with it; a great piece of advise.

[celticstudio]

Wow, that is pretty touching.

A very touching story but historically it is an inaccurate translation of the motto. The true translation in my opinion is "Not forgetting" according to all Latin grammars.
The motto for M(a)c Tavish is listed in Burke's General Armory but not translated. It is totally missed in the leading book "Handbook of Mottos" by Elvin. It is not even listed as a Clan in McLaren's "The Book of Crests". Likewise there is no listing for Mac Tavish in " Scottish Clan & Family Names" by Waye & Squire.
One web site that shall remain unnamed has the motto translated as "Not forgetful" which is rather funny since it conveys that totally WRONG meaning. Perhaps they mean that Mac Tavish never forget where their car keys are!

None of the three Mac Tavish websites that I viewed provide a translation of the motto which is rather surprising.
The translation of the motto that has been referred to here as "Do not forget me after death" is provided by the "bucket" shop group that sells many Mac Tavish items with the "Full Coat of Arms". Any reader here will know that this its totally incorrect and shameful that these should be allowed to be sold to Scottish Clansmen! Alas what can be done. I have personally contacted them in an attempt to have this corrected but they are solely in it for the money it seems. Like the "Arms" the motto translation is a fabrication no matter how sentimental it's interpretation may be.
One of the many "official" Clan Mac Tavish sites provides the translation as "Not forgotten" which is very close to the Latin.
The only historical translation that I have been able to find is from Fairbain's Book of Crests. This well know text translates the motto from Latin as "Not forgetting" which seems the most valid.
My conclusion is that the motto "Do not forget me after death" is from a "bucket" shop and has not validity since it is shown with the "Coat of Arms" and the translation from Latin just does not apply.
The same applies for the website with the motto "Not forgetful"
For those that wish to stay as close to historic accuracy as possible the motto translation should be "Not forgetting"
Hope this helps add clarity to this.
I have an extensive list of Clan mottos and their translations on my business website that I can not post a link to however anyone interested in the correct translation of a Clan motto can ask me here.
All the best
Louis Walsh
Celtic Studio

[celticstudio]

I have a few:

Wood motto :
Defend

MacKenzie Clan mottos:
Luceo Non Uro - I shine, not burn
Cuidich' n' Righ - Save the King (MacKenzies of Seaforth)
Tulach Ard (the Battle cry)

In the interests of historical accuracy the motto for Mac Kenzie Seaforth is
Cuidich' n Righ . There is no extra " ' " after the N.
I have some great pictures of the Seaforth crest but can not post them here because they are on a commerical site and I do not know how to attach them otherwise.
Louis Walsh
Celtic Studio
Another proud Canadian.. I can see the Canadian Seaforth Armoury from my window!