Translation Help?!

[Mair of the Tribe of Mar]

Always glad to be of service! Are you planning on using this as a personal motto? And if so, does than mean you are going to apply for a grant of arms from the Lord Lyon in Scotland, or some other heraldic authority?

I am planning on using this as my personal motto. When future funds are plentiful I am planning on petitioning Lord Lyon for arms. As of right now I am planning on having them registered with the American College of Heraldry. Not "official" but still something, in my opinion.

[Ruanaidh]

Perhaps you could consider Latin: Deus fortitudo mea est. It certainly sounds better.

[macwilkin]

I am planning on using this as my personal motto. When future funds are plentiful I am planning on petitioning Lord Lyon for arms. As of right now I am planning on having them registered with the American College of Heraldry. Not "official" but still something, in my opinion.

Don't forget about the New England Historic Genealogical Society's Committee on Heraldry:

http://makepeace.ca/nehgs/registration/

You may register your arms with them, and whilst it has no official standing per se, it does have this going for it:

Established in 1864, the New England Historic Genealogical Society Committee on Heraldry is the world's oldest non-governmental body primarily concerned with heraldry. It authenticates and records arms rightfully borne in the United States or by U.S. citizens living abroad, publishing historic arms in A Roll of Arms, Registered by the Committee on Heraldry of the New England Historic Genealogical Society.

Regards,

Todd

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Don't forget about the New England Historic Genealogical Society's Committee on Heraldry:

http://makepeace.ca/nehgs/registration/

You may register your arms with them, and whilst it has no official standing per se, it does have this going for it:




Regards,

Todd

If I may, I would advise you to merely register your assumed arms with the New England etc. Committee on Heraldry. I suggest this because many of the foreign State heraldic authorities (such as the Lord Lyon) decline to re-grant arms devised by the self-styled American College of Heraldry as they do not wish to validate its status with any form of recognition.

The same antipathy does not seem to attach itself to the New England Historical Genealogical Society.

If you are not particularly skilled in the heraldic arts and sciences, I am sure there are a number of armorists here on the forum who would be willing to give you what assistance you may require in devising, blazoning, and painting your arms.

[macwilkin]

If I may, I would advise you to merely register your assumed arms with the New England etc. Committee on Heraldry. I suggest this because many of the foreign State heraldic authorities (such as the Lord Lyon) decline to re-grant arms devised by the self-styled American College of Heraldry as they do not wish to validate its status with any form of recognition.

The same antipathy does not seem to attach itself to the New England Historical Genealogical Society.

If you are not particularly skilled in the heraldic arts and sciences, I am sure there are a number of armorists here on the forum who would be willing to give you what assistance you may require in devising, blazoning, and painting your arms.

I would second Rathdown's suggestion; the NEHGS is a much-respected institution in genealogical circles.

Todd

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Perhaps you could consider Latin: Deus fortitudo mea est. It certainly sounds better.

In Scotland mottoes tend to be rendered in Latin, English, Scots, French, or Gaelic. Looking at just "clan mottoes" Latin is the most common (approximately 75 clans have Latin mottoes), followed by English (approximately 26 mottoes), then French (18 mottoes), Scots (12 mottoes), and finally Gaelic (8 mottoes).

As suggested above, you may wish to consider using Latin for your motto. The Latin would normally be shortened to Deus fortitudo although "fortitude" and "courage" don't have quite the same meaning when translated into in English. Likewise you could use a variation on the motto of your clan Chief: Pans Plus (Think more). Perhaps something like Pans Plus Honor (Think More of Honour) as in "I think more of my honour than of my safety."

In Scottish heraldry there is a tradition, if you will, of having one's motto based on that of thier chief, something you may wish to think about before making a final decision. (The same holds true with newly devised arms-- ideally they should show "kinship" with the chief and clan.)

As with any motto there are both pros and cons whatever language you choose. English (the second most popular language for mottoes in Scotland) is the most accessible-- almost everyone you meet will be able to read, and understand, your motto. Latin is, along with French, perhaps a bit more elegant, whilst Scots and Gaelic are the most obscure (and often difficult to pronounce).

I offer no advise in this matter other than this: Choose well, because your arms and motto will be used for generations to come.

[Mair of the Tribe of Mar]

If you are not particularly skilled in the heraldic arts and sciences, I am sure there are a number of armorists here on the forum who would be willing to give you what assistance you may require in devising, blazoning, and painting your arms.

I am somewhat skilled in the heraldic sciences, art is a completely foreign subject for me I try to draw a line dancette and it ends up wavy. If you could point me in the general direction of a few of the members who could help out, I would greatly appreciatte it.

The same antipathy does not seem to attach itself to the New England Historical Genealogical Society.

Out of curiousity, why is that so? Both organizations are not official in any capacity.

(The same holds true with newly devised arms-- ideally they should show "kinship" with the chief and clan.)

I have a very, very distant cousin (At least his surname is Mair), who lives in Australia and was granted arms from Lord Lyon and was named chief of the family. The arms that I have been thinking of are a differenced version of them.

Also, thank you for all of the help and ideas. I truly am thankful for everything!

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I think the major objection is that the American College of Heraldry grants arms without any lawful authority to do so. The New England Historical and Genealogical Society doesn't "devise, grant, confirm, or regulate" coats of arms, and has never pretended to be an heraldic authority empowered by law to carry out such acts.

You should be able to find an herald painter here: www.heraldic-arts.com

which is the web site of the Society of Heraldic Arts.

[Standard]

Very interesting and informative thread. Mair, please keep us posted of your progress. I'd be interested to see your finished product.

[thanmuwa]

In Irish:

Throid sé le an crógacht na Dia aige.
(He fought with the courage of God.)

Alternatively

Le misneach Dé (with the courage of God)
Le crógacht Dé (with the courage of God)
Le laochas Dé (with the valour of God)

These are all in Irish, and Scottish Gaelic might have a few changes. For one thing the accent over the letters goes the other way in Gaelic, and the genitive case (ie Dia = God, Dé = "of God") may be different but I am not sure about that one. To my mind the first one is the most likely (it feels/sounds/scans best).
Here is an approximate pronunciation guide:
Le (as in let)
MISH-noch (rhymes with scottish loch)
djay (sounds like jay bird with a hint of a d to start)