Latin Mottos for a Coat of Arms
Latin mottos for a coat of arms, sorted by theme with accurate English translations, plus 10 famous real mottos and tips for writing a family motto of your own.
By the Coat of Arms Creator team
The best Latin mottos for a coat of arms are short, well known and correct: Per aspera ad astra (through hardships to the stars), Semper fidelis (always faithful) and Fortis et liber (strong and free) are good examples. Below you’ll find 49 Latin mottos sorted by theme, each with an accurate English translation, plus 10 famous real mottos and how to write your own.
Most of these phrases come from classical writers like Virgil and Horace, from the Bible, or from real mottos used by states, schools and families. They are proven Latin, so you won’t end up with a grammar mistake on your family crest.
What Is a Coat of Arms Motto?
A motto is a short phrase on a ribbon or scroll that sits with the coat of arms. It isn’t part of the arms themselves, so you can change it without changing the shield. It often sums up a belief, a hope or a family story, and sometimes it puns on the family name. The guide to the parts of a coat of arms shows where the scroll fits in the full design.
Latin Mottos About Courage
| Latin | English translation |
|---|---|
| Audentes fortuna iuvat | Fortune favors the bold (Virgil) |
| Virtute et armis | By valor and arms (Mississippi) |
| Fortitudine | With fortitude |
| Nec aspera terrent | Hardships do not deter us |
| Non timeo sed caveo | I do not fear, but I am wary |
| Fortis in arduis | Brave in difficulties |
| Virtute non verbis | By valor, not words |
Latin Mottos About Loyalty
| Latin | English translation |
|---|---|
| Semper fidelis | Always faithful |
| Fidelis ad mortem | Faithful unto death |
| Fideliter | Faithfully |
| Fortiter et fideliter | Bravely and faithfully |
| Pro rege et patria | For king and country |
| Fidus et audax | Faithful and bold |
| Fide et amore | By faith and love |
Latin Mottos About Faith
| Latin | English translation |
|---|---|
| In Deo speramus | In God we hope (Brown University) |
| Deus providebit | God will provide |
| Ad maiorem Dei gloriam | For the greater glory of God (the Jesuits) |
| Nisi Dominus frustra | Without the Lord, all is in vain (Edinburgh) |
| Spes mea in Deo | My hope is in God |
| Deo gratias | Thanks be to God |
| Fide et fortitudine | By faith and fortitude |
Latin Mottos About Family
| Latin | English translation |
|---|---|
| Floreat domus | May the house flourish |
| Concordia parvae res crescunt | Small things grow through harmony (Sallust) |
| Ex unitate vires | Unity is strength (South Africa, 1910 to 2000) |
| Amor vincit omnia | Love conquers all |
| Concordia domi, foris pax | Harmony at home, peace abroad (Lübeck) |
| Familia supra omnia | Family above all |
| Pro familia | For the family |
Latin Mottos About Wisdom
| Latin | English translation |
|---|---|
| Sapere aude | Dare to be wise (Horace) |
| Scientia potentia est | Knowledge is power |
| Veritas | Truth |
| Lux et veritas | Light and truth (Yale) |
| Festina lente | Make haste slowly |
| Nosce te ipsum | Know thyself |
| Sapientia et doctrina | Wisdom and learning (Fordham) |
Latin Mottos About Perseverance
| Latin | English translation |
|---|---|
| Per aspera ad astra | Through hardships to the stars |
| Vincit qui patitur | He who endures, conquers |
| Labor omnia vincit | Work conquers all (Oklahoma) |
| Nil desperandum | Never despair (Horace) |
| Dum spiro spero | While I breathe, I hope (South Carolina) |
| Tenax propositi | Firm of purpose (Horace) |
| Perseverando | By persevering |
Latin Mottos About Freedom
| Latin | English translation |
|---|---|
| Libertas | Liberty |
| Fortis et liber | Strong and free (Alberta) |
| Pro patria et libertate | For homeland and freedom |
| Montani semper liberi | Mountaineers are always free (West Virginia) |
| Liber et audax | Free and bold |
| Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem | By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty (Massachusetts) |
| Regnat populus | The people rule (Arkansas) |
10 Famous Real Mottos and Whose They Are
These are some of the best-known mottos in heraldry and public life. Three of them aren’t Latin at all, which shows how often French appears in English heraldry.
| Motto | Language | Translation | Whose it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dieu et mon droit | French | God and my right | The monarch of the United Kingdom (royal arms) |
| Honi soit qui mal y pense | Old French | Shamed be he who thinks evil of it | Order of the Garter, shown around the shield in the royal arms |
| Nemo me impune lacessit | Latin | No one provokes me with impunity | Order of the Thistle and the royal arms used in Scotland |
| Semper fidelis | Latin | Always faithful | United States Marine Corps |
| E pluribus unum | Latin | Out of many, one | Great Seal of the United States |
| Fiat lux | Latin | Let there be light | University of California |
| Veritas | Latin | Truth | Harvard University |
| Dominus illuminatio mea | Latin | The Lord is my light | University of Oxford |
| Per ardua ad astra | Latin | Through adversity to the stars | Royal Air Force |
| A mari usque ad mare | Latin | From sea to sea | Canada (coat of arms) |
The Wikipedia list of Latin phrases is a good place to check a phrase’s source and meaning before you commit to it.
How Do You Choose a Family Motto?
Start with what you want the motto to say. A family that came through hard times might like Per aspera ad astra. A family of teachers might choose Sapere aude. A family that moved countries could use Fortis et liber.
A few tips help:
- Keep it short. Two to four words fit a scroll and read well at small sizes.
- Match the motto to the shield. A lion and Audentes fortuna iuvat go together. The guide to coat of arms symbols lists what common charges stand for.
- Think about a pun. Many old mottos play on the family name, which makes them easy to remember.
- Say it out loud. If it’s hard to pronounce, family members won’t use it.
Can I Write My Own Latin Motto?
You can, but be careful. Latin words change their endings depending on how they’re used, so a phrase built word by word from a dictionary is often wrong. Online translators make the same mistake.
If you want an original phrase, keep it to a simple pattern that’s hard to get wrong, like two nouns joined by et (“and”): Fides et labor means faith and work. Then ask someone who studied Latin to check it, or post it in a Latin learners’ forum. When in doubt, pick a phrase from the tables above. These are attested phrases, which means people have used them for centuries.
Your motto doesn’t have to be Latin. English, Irish, Welsh, Scots, Spanish or any family language works just as well.
Where Does the Motto Go on a Coat of Arms?
In English heraldry the motto usually sits on a scroll below the shield. In Scottish heraldry the motto normally sits on a scroll above the crest, and a second motto can go below the shield. If you’re designing for fun, either spot works. Pick the one that fits your layout.
How to Add a Motto in the Coat of Arms Maker
Open the Motto tab in the free coat of arms maker and click once to add a motto scroll. Type your motto, then pick a font. Cinzel and IM Fell English give a classic carved look. Blackletter (UnifrakturMaguntia) looks medieval, and Uncial Antiqua suits Irish or Celtic designs.
Use the Curve slider to bend the text so it follows the scroll. Drag the scroll below the shield for the English style or above the crest for the Scottish style, and resize it so the words stay readable when the design is small.
When your shield is ready, check the rule of tincture so the colors read clearly, then download your coat of arms as a PNG, JPG or SVG. For the full process from blank shield to finished design, read how to make a coat of arms.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good Latin motto for a family?
Short, well-known phrases work best. Floreat domus means may the house flourish, Ex unitate vires means unity is strength, and Concordia parvae res crescunt means small things grow through harmony. Pick one that says something true about your family, and keep it to two to four words if you can.
Does a coat of arms have to have a motto?
No. A motto is optional and is not part of the arms themselves. Many historical coats of arms have none. Families and people also changed their mottos over time, which is why the same arms can appear with different mottos in different centuries.
Where does the motto go on a coat of arms?
In English heraldry the motto usually sits on a scroll below the shield. In Scottish heraldry it is normally placed on a scroll above the crest. Some arms carry a second motto or a war cry, which can appear in the other position.
Does a coat of arms motto have to be in Latin?
No. Latin is the most common choice, but mottos appear in French, English, Scots, Welsh, Gaelic, German and many other languages. The British royal motto, Dieu et mon droit, is French. Use the language that means the most to you.