Clan mottoes...

[Oldhiker]

I've always thought it meant to not make war. The 'umber hand' is a traditional signal from ancient times - meaning 'I bear no arms'. Of course this did seem to get my clan into trouble in time past.


Don

I always assumed the open hand in the Lamont crest was for their past ancestry to the O'Neil Clan of Northern ireland and the Red Hand of Ulster ???

did all these clan chiefs sit around trying to out do their neighbors with the best Crest (today's best mown lawn of the neighborhood?)

[Don Patrick]

George,

You could be right. My information is related to the hand salute of the Armed Forces. Is is said that the open hand in days gone past was meant as a sign of peace and an indicator the the person did not possess weapons. Particularily given the Lamont's moto, I took both matters to be of the same origin.

What more do you know of the Irish side of the matter. I'm interested.

[Matthew Siegmann]

Wow, 131 posts and no Clan Keith. Am I the only one??
According to the Keith Society web site their are two recognized mottos for Keith:

Veritas vincit (truth conquers)

Quae amissa salva (what has been lost is safe)- referencing the role that the Keith family played in protecting the Scottish Regalia (crown, scepter, sword and scabbard) from Oliver Cromwell's troops during 1651-2

Another Clan Keith member here! Haven't been active on the boards for a while though. My great great grandmother was a Keith.

[BoldHighlander]

My better halfs clan, MacKay. Manu Forti (with strong hand).

One of these days pehaps we will luck out & find my clan.

The Mackays have two, the more "modern" & well known MANU FORTI
and the ancient Gaelic BIDH TREUN / BI TREN


"Manu Forti (with a strong hand) is the ancient motto of the Aberach Mackays. By popular belief it is said that the words Manu Forti appears in the crest of the Bratach Bhan (White Banner) of MacAoidh (Mackay). However, the crest above the shield which "consists of a hand erased (sic) raised appaume, that is with extended fingers showing the palm" holding a dagger, does not read Manu Forti. According to John Mackay in an article in Celtic Monthly, June 1893 he says, that "the last Aberich hereditary banner man said the ancient Gaelic words read Bidh Treun" in the more modern Gaelic -- Bi Tren. It is further stated, "As is well known among Strathnaver people Bi Tren, Be Valiant is the slogan of Mackay, which became Latinised (sic) Latinized into Manu Forti..."

courtesy of the Mackay Banner (Fall 2007) & Angus Mackay, M.A.
The Book of Mackay 1908

[MacMoose]

The Lumsden motto is

" Amor Patitur Moras"

(Love Endures Delay)

The modern equivalent might be "I'll be with you in just a minute, love, the game/battle/latest episode of Hamish MacBeth is almost over".

Works for me.

[cormacmacguardhe]

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.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

George,

You could be right. My information is related to the hand salute of the Armed Forces. Is is said that the open hand in days gone past was meant as a sign of peace and an indicator the the person did not possess weapons. Particularily given the Lamont's moto, I took both matters to be of the same origin.

What more do you know of the Irish side of the matter. I'm interested.

I would be wary of ascribing an Irish connection to the Lamonts, based simply on the crest. The name itself derives from the Old Norse for "lawman". Looking closely at the motto "Neither Spare Nor Dispose" one could posit that it refers to taking an oath, and being faithful to it, without favour or prejudice.

Certainly the raised open hand has been a sign of making a pledge or swearing an oath from the earliest times.

[Earl D]

Clan Cameron Mottos:

(old) Mo Righ's Mo Dhuchaich [translation from Gaelic: For King and Country]

(current) Aonaibh Ri Chéile [translation from Gaelic: Let Us Unite]

[Mael Coluim]

Clan MacCallum/Malcolm - "In Ardua Tendit"
The latin phrase translates to "he attempts difficult things".

[ForresterModern]

Clan Forrester' crest and motto are more occupational than inspirational, seeing as they originally were the caretakers and wardens of the wooded preserves and the royal hunting forests--

"Blaw, Hunter, Blaw Thy Horn"- with a hunting hound in the crest (Blow Hunter Blow Thy Horn presumably related to the royal hunt and the horns used therein).

Interesting though as it relates to our family as my father and uncle both were music teachers and all of their children accomplished musicians for at least a portion of their lives (both my father and his brother and all three sons actually played horns---trumpet, french horn, baritone horn and tuba). Strrange how that comes around sometimes.