Clan mottoes...

[celticstudio]

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).

The Trail crest is a very interesting one.. on a Rcok there is a pillar. I have a picture but can not post it here since it is on my commercial website and would have to be approved by the moderator. I have done some interesting work for the name Trial in karat gold.
Louis
Celtic Studio

[celticstudio]

202 posts! And I am not included!

Clan Maclaine of Lochbuie

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

There is another older motto that was used by Mac Laine of Lochbuie that is used by one of the oldest cap badge makers. The motto is "Alteras merces"
Mac Laine of Ardgour who were the previous Chiefs. The crest is identical.
I think that they still sell this ebven though it is outdated.
I have a picture but I can not post it here since it is on a "commerical" site that is not approved by the Moderator.
All the best
Louis
Celtic Studio

[celticstudio]

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.

The motto for Kirkpatrick has been written many ways I have seen it as "I make Sicker" in Elvin's landmark work on mottos "A Handbook of Mottos" (1860) where he has a very nice write up on the origin of the motto. I have also seen "I make sure" in McLaren's "The book of Crests"which matches with the orininal registration in the"Roll odf Scottish Arms" Book 1, Page 173 for Closeburn. This is the original but the "I Mak Sicker" has a nice ring to it!!
Louis
Celtic Studio

[celticstudio]

Slohairt,

Have you any information about a motto for MacSuibhne? Or MacSweeney or Sweeney? I've seen crests but I can't make any sense of a clan motto.

If you know the motto I can translate it.
Louis
Celtic Studio

[celticstudio]

Forbes:
Grace me Guide

Bannerman (not really a clan, but we have a crest)
Pro patria For the fatherland

The Bannerman crest is very nice. I have a great picture but can not send it since it is on a "commercial" site that I own.

This motto is usually translated "For my country" There is not reference to "fatherland" in the Latin.
Louis
Celrtic Studio

[celticstudio]

I have see with two different mottos:

- "In Promptu" - (In readiness)

or

- "Sub Spe" - (Under Hope)

Hi,
I questioned this as well until I met the president of the House of Dunbar. The motto Sub spe (Under hope) is used by the Clan Dunbar Association of the United States (House of Dunbar) and he confirmed that this is not the Clan Dunbar but the Clan Dunbar Association crest. The correct one for the Clan is "In promtu". Mc Laren's "The Book of Crests" shows both and may have led to more confusion than clarity.
The one that you posted from the r commercial site is actually the wrong on to use in my opinion. They have many "wrong" crests and nothing to stop them!
I have pictures of both but can not post them here because they are on a "commercial" site that I own and would be considered advertising I am told.
All the best
Louis
Celtic Studio

[celticstudio]

thats what i had found as well i am currently drawing up my own arms based on my life and loyalties and will have them registered but those will be for me and as i have not my own clan i will still continue to pay homage to my ancestral clan and its badge i designed the arms for me to use and then to provide arms for my brother and future children to build on as scottish custom is to matriculate arms of a father or brother to adopt their arms but with slight modification im still deciding on whether or not i should register in south africa as that is the easiest option or to track down my availability to register in canada as my father is a canadian citizen i am not aware of any family still living in scotland and since the older members of my family have begun dying off it becomes harder to find out about distant cousins and the lot

I don't think that South Africa has a recognised heraldic granting authority but Canada does.
All the best
Louis
Celtic Studio

[celticstudio]

Morrison:

The family of Pabbay


not really a motto is it?

Yeah... looks like they are still trying to come up with a good one that has not been taken!!
Just for accuacy it is usually spelled Phabbay
Love the clan plant which makes up for the motto... apiece of driftwood that it claimed that they floated to shore on! Ha!
A great tale!
Louis
celtic Studio

[celticstudio]

Lennox's motto is "I'll Defend". Kincaid and MacFarlane are both spawned by the Earl of Lennox, and use "This I'll Defend". Interestingly, I believe Kincaid and MacFarlane came by their mottos differently. Here is the MacFarlane badge:

I am not sure who Lennox or Kincaid are defending, but in the case of MacFarlane, notice that the demi-savage is pointing to an imperial crown with his left hand. The Regent, James, Earl of Moray, rewarded the MacFarlanes with the Clan's crest and motto for protecting him (and thus the crown) from his mother, Mary Queen of Scott's, in 1568.

There is a unique Lennox crest (Lennox of that Ilk) although they use the same motto. It is in "The Book of Crests" by McLaren and I also have seen a picture of the original engraved in stone in Scotland. I have a colour picture of the crest but I can not post them here since they are on a "commercial site". Sorry.
All the best
Louis
Celtic Studio

[celticstudio]

MacQuarrie: An T'Arm Breac Dearg; The Red Tartaned Army. there is also some rumour that it also translates as "The Blood Splattered Army" This is what I have tattooed on my right shoulder.

The Mac Quarrie motto has become a little confusing. The picture oyu show is from a commercial supplier of Clan badges and they have not changed there molds in more than 30 years.
I have recently seen the crest as " Turris fortis mihi deus" transalted" God is a strong tower to me". This is shown in the McLaren book, "The Book of Crets" as the only one. Listed also as MacGuarie of Ulva.
I don't know hwich one is currently correct.. Any help??
Louis
Celtic Studio