Clan mottoes...

[Mike S]

Clan Sutherland: Sans Peur/ Without Fear.

[MacTavishOfJapan]

Us Thomsons got a cheery one!

Thomson (MacTavish) - "Non Oblitus (Do Not Forget Me After Death)"

I think usually this is shortened to "Do Not Forget" but my Mum recently found the full version in a tourist shop. It nearly reduced her to tears - my Dad died a few years ago.

[Tattoo Bradley]

Us Thomsons got a cheery one!

Thomson (MacTavish) - "Non Oblitus (Do Not Forget Me After Death)"

I think usually this is shortened to "Do Not Forget" but my Mum recently found the full version in a tourist shop. It nearly reduced her to tears - my Dad died a few years ago.

Wow, that is pretty touching.

[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

[Kilted KT]

Us Thomsons got a cheery one!

Thomson (MacTavish) - "Non Oblitus (Do Not Forget Me After Death)"

I think usually this is shortened to "Do Not Forget" but my Mum recently found the full version in a tourist shop. It nearly reduced her to tears - my Dad died a few years ago.

Sorry to hear about dad...

oh, I'm also a MacTavish...and I will not be forgotten!!!