X Marks the Scot - An on-line community of kilt wearers.

   X Marks Partners - (Go to the Partners Dedicated Forums )
USA Kilts website Celtic Croft website Celtic Corner website Houston Kiltmakers

User Tag List

Results 1 to 9 of 9
  1. #1
    Join Date
    2nd May 08
    Location
    Mandurah, Western Australia
    Posts
    698
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Nunquam Non Paratus,...

    ....meaning 'always not unprepared' is the Johnston/e motto. Anyone know why they opted for this rather than 'always ready' (Semper Paratus).

  2. #2
    Join Date
    8th March 09
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    2,727
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Well what's the obvious difference in semper.... And nunquam? I would think that translation would be the answer.
    “Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.”
    – Robert Louis Stevenson

  3. #3
    Join Date
    2nd May 08
    Location
    Mandurah, Western Australia
    Posts
    698
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Yes, I'm guilty of accepting one online translation, ie, 'always not unprepared', which seems rather cumbersome. Looking elsewhere I found 'Never Unprepared'.
    Last edited by Bruce Scott; 17th May 09 at 04:55 PM.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    28th August 08
    Location
    Peoria, Arizona
    Posts
    1,778
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    I think I would translate it slightly differently- Never not prepared, now if I recall my meager Latin training under the auspicious eye of Jesuit Latin speakers- emphasis would by on the Never, kind of in a 'do not mess with us' sense.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    8th March 09
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    2,727
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Being real familiar with semper... The translation didn't work for me..
    but seeing this translation it makes sense on what the motto message conveys..
    “Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.”
    – Robert Louis Stevenson

  6. #6
    Join Date
    14th March 06
    Posts
    1,873
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Perhaps Semper paratus was already taken and in use.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    8th March 09
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    2,727
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    The Johnsons share the motto with the Irish Donoghue and a couple other families... The motto shown to be used by Johnsons in Ireland as early as 1680's in the brief reading I done on it. This I found under a search by the motto and it's a booked called the general armory of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales.

    It shows the family is a Border family and it's history as well as the use of the name by McGregors when their name was ordered not used.... It's an interesting reading... It's in rampantscotland.com I cannot give the link since I am on my phone..
    Last edited by dfmacliam; 17th May 09 at 06:06 PM.
    “Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.”
    – Robert Louis Stevenson

  8. #8
    Join Date
    8th April 08
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    912
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    As someone who doesn't know much about latin but whose family shares the name, I honestly didn't know there was a difference.

    Now I'm curious about this myself!

  9. #9
    Join Date
    17th December 07
    Location
    Staunton, Va
    Posts
    4,948
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Crests and mottoes, unlike coats of arms, are not unique to an individual. Indeed, many families have identical crests and mottoes. In the instance of Nunquam non paratus, not only is this motto used by at least half a dozen families named Johnson, Johnston, and Johnstone, but it is also the motto of Gibbs, Knight, Kerrick, Betton , and Skinner.

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

» Log in

User Name:

Password:

Not a member yet?
Register Now!
Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v4.2.0