Heraldry Family Mottoes
M

Names begining with Mac, Mc, M' are listed under the first letter following the prefix
e.g Mc Cann under "C", Mac Geoghegan under "G", etc.

Family Name Gaelic Equivalent Original language English Translation
Mackey Ó Maca Manu forti. With a strong hand.
Madden Ó Madáin Chirsto duce vincamus. With Christ I will conquer.
Maher Ó Meacair In periculis audax. Bold in dangers.
Mc Mahon Mac Matúna Sic nos sic sacra tuemur. Thus we guard our sacred rights.
O'Mahony Ó Matúna Lasair romuin go buad. The torch before us triumphantly.
O'Malley Ó Máille Terra marique potens. Valiant by sea and land.
Mallon Ó Mealláin - Brave and faithful.
Malone Ó Maoileoin Fidelis ad urnam. Faithful to the tomb.
Mangan Ó Mongáin Manus hoec inimica tyrannis. This hand is hostile to tyrants.
Manley Ó Máinle Manus hoec inimica tyrannis. This hand is hostile to tyrants.
Manning Ó Mainnin Viva ut vivas. Live that you may live forever.
Mc Manus Mac Mánais Cor et manus. Heart and hand.
Marshall Marascal Utilem pete finem. Seek a useful end.
Martin Ó Mairtín Auxilium meum a Domino. My help is from the Lord.
Mason Masún Demeure par la vérité. Stick by the truth.
Masterson Mac An Máistir Per ardua. Through difficulties.
Mathews Maitiú Deo adjuvante non timendum. With God assisting we must not fear.
Maxwell Ó Meiscill Reviresco. I flourish again.
May Ó Miadaig Fortis et fidelis. Brave and faithful.
Meade Miac Toujours pret. Always ready.
O'Meara Ó Meára Opmia spolia. The richest of the spoil.
Meehan Ó Miadacáin Misniúil agus dílis. Brave and faithful.
Mc Millan Mac Maoláin Miseris succurrere disco. I learn to succour the unfortunate.
Miller - Sibimet merces industria. Industry is a recompense to itself.
Milligan Ó Maolleagáin Regarde bien. Attend well.
Mill(s) An Muilinn Glandium musqrum nutrix. The sword is the muse of muses.
Mitchell Mistéil Sola virtus nobiltat. Virtue alone ennobles.
Moffatt Moiféid Spero meliora. I hope for better things.
Molloy Ó Maolmuaid Gearaig agus dog buad. Cut and burn to victory.
Moloney Ó Maolomnaig In Domino et non in arcu sperabo. In God and not in my bow I will hope.
Monaghan Ó Manacáin Felis demulcta mitis. The stroked cat is meek.
Montgomery Mac Lomaire Gardez bien. Guard well.
Mooney ó Maonaig Sola virtus nobiltat. Virtue alone ennobles.
Moore Ó Móra Conlan abú . Conlan forever.
Moore Ó Móra Spec mea Deus. I hope in God.
Moran Ó Moráin Lucent in tenebris. They shine in darkness.
Morgan Ó Muireagáin Fidus et audax. Faithful and bold.
Moriarty Ó Muireartaig Scandit sublima virtus. Virtue scales great heights.
Morley Ó Muraile S'ils te mordent mords les. If they bite thee, bite them.
Moroney Ó Maolruanaid Amicis semper fidelis. Always faithful to my friends.
Morris (Ó) Mac Muiris Si Deus nobiscum qui contra nos. If God be with us, who can be against us.
Morton Mortún Virtutis praemium. Virtues reward.
Mulcahy Ó Maolcataig Conlan abú . Conlan forever.
Muldoon Ó Maoldú in Pro fide et patria. For faith and fatherland.
Mulholland Ó Maolcallan Semper praecinctus. Ever ready.
Mullally Ó Maolalaid Intaminatis fulget honoribus. It shines with unstained honours.
Mullan (Ó) Mac Maoláin Vivere sat vincere. To conquer is to live enough.
Mac Mullen Mac Maoláin Fortis atque fidelis. Brave and faithful.
Mullins Ó Maoláin Ne cede malis. Yield not to adversity.
Mulvey Ó Maoilmicil Pro aris et focis. For our altars and our home.
Mulvihill Ó Maoilmicil Pro aris et focis. For our altars and our home.
Murdock Mac Muireataig Omnia pro bono. All things for the good.
Murphy Ó Murcú Fortis et hospitalis. Brave and hospitable.
Murray Ó Muirí Ditat fide servata. Tried fidelity enriches.
Mc Murrough Mac Murcada - -
Murtagh Ó Muireartaig Scandit sublima virtus. Virtue scales great heights.
Macartney - Mens conscia recti. A mind conscious of rectitude.
Macfie - Pro rege. For my king.
Mackintosh - - Touch not the cat bota (without) a glove.
Mackintosh - - Touch not the cat, but a glove.
Maclean - Crescit sub pondere virtus. Virtue thrives beneath oppression. -
Maclellan - - Think on.
Macreadie - Semper paratus. Always prepared.
Madden - Fortior qui se vincit. He is stronger who conquers himself.
Madden - Propria virtute audax. Daring by my own valour.
Magan - Virtute probitate. By virtue and honesty.
Magenis - Sola salus servire Deo. To serve God is the only salvation.
Mahomud - Nil desperandum. Never dispair.
Main - Virtute et labore. By valour and exertion.
Maister - Vix ea nostro noco. I scarce call these things our own.
Maitland - Esse quam videri. To be, rather than to seem.
Mallet - In cruce salus. Salvation from the cross.
Manby - Pro patria. For my country.
Manning - Esse quam videri. To be, rather than to seem.
Manningham - - The eagle does not catch flies.
Mansel - - Steadfast.
Manser - Dum spiro spero. While I breath I hope.
Marker - Festina lente. Be quick without impetuosity.
Marriott - Semper fidelis. Always faithful.
Marriott - Sursum. Upwards.
Marriott - Virtute et fide. By valour and faith.
Martin - - He who looks at Martin's ape, Martin's ape shall look at him.
Martin - - Sure and steadfast.
Martin - Fructo cognoscitur arbor. A tree is recognised by its fruit.
Martinson - - We rise.
Marton - Dieu et ma patrie. God and my country.
Mason - - God my trust.
Mason - Dum spiro spero. While I breath I hope.
Masterton - Per ardua. Through difficulties.
Masterton - Pro Deo et rege. For God and king.
Matheson - - Heart in hand.
Mathie - Esse quam videri. To be, rather than to seem.
Maundrell - Patior, potior. I endure, I enjoy.
Mawbey - - Always for liberty.
Maxwell - - I bide ye fair.
Maxwell - - Think on.
Maxwell - Spero meliora. I hope for better things.
De Mcleyns - Vivere sat vincere. To conquer is to live enough.
Meaham - - Duty.
Meldon - Pro fide et patria. For faith and country.
Menzies - Malo mori quam foedari. Death rather than dishonour.
Menzies - Spero. I hope.
Mercer - - The grit pool.
Mercier - Toujours fidele. Always faithful.
Meres - Sine metu. Without fear.
Meridith - Heb Dduw heb ddin a Duw a digon. Without God, without anything, God is enough.
Metivier - Virtute. By virtue.
Michel - Nil conscire sibi. To have a conscience free from guilt.
Middleton - - My hope is in God.
Middleton - Arte et marte. By skill and valour.
Middleton - Fortis in arduis. Brave in difficulties.
Miles - Esto quod esse videris. Men should be what they seem.
Millar - - Keep tryst and trust.
Miller - Esse quam videri. To be, rather than to seem.
Milliken - Regarde bien. Attend well.
Millor - Nil conscire sibi. To have a conscience free from guilt.
Mills - Confido I confide.
Mills - Deo adjuvante. With God assisting.
Mills - Nil conscire sibi. To have a conscience free from guilt.
Milnes - In cruce salus. Salvation from the cross.
Milward - Misneac. Bear and forbear.
Milward - Nec temere nec timide. Neither rashly nor timidly.
Minton - Pro Deo et patria. For God and country.
Mirehouse - Qualis ab incepto. The same as from the beginning.
Mitford - - God carryeth for us.
Mogarth - Candor dat viribus alas. Truth gives wings to strength.
Mohamud - Nil desperandum. Never dispair.
Molesworth - Vincit amor patriae. To love my country.
Molyneux - Vivere sat vincere. To conquer is to live enough.
Monbray - Fortitudine. With fortitude.
Money - Nil moror ictus. I do not care for blows.
Mongredien - Sursum. Upwards.
Montagu - Spectemur agendo. Let us be judged by our actions.
Monteflore - - Think and thank.
Montgomerie - Gardez bien. Guard well.
Montgomery - Fideliter. Faithfully.
Montgomery - Patriae inflici fidelis. Faithful to my unhappy country.
Montgomery - Spero meliora. I hope for better things.
Moor - In Deo confido. I trust in God.
Moore - - Resolve well, persevere.
Moore - Audaces fortuna juvat. Fortune favours the bold.
Moore - Dum spiro spero. While I breath I hope.
Moore - In Deo confido. I trust in God.
O' Morchoe Ó Murcú Fortis et hospitalis. Brave and hospitable.
Moreton - - By perseverance.
Moreton - Perseverando. By perservering.
Morgan - Forti et fideli nihil difficle. To the brave and faithful man nothing is difficult.
Morgan - Heb Dduw heb ddin a Duw a digon. Without God, without anything, God is enough.
Morgan - Honor et virtus. Honour and virtue.
Morison - - Suffer.
Morison - Disce pati. Learn to endure.
Morison - Floreat majestas. Let majesty flourish.
Morison - In Deo confido. I trust in God.
Morland - Misneac. Bear and forbear.
Morris - Fide et fortitude. By fidelity and fortitude.
Mortimer - - Press forward.
Morton - Perseverando. By perservering.
Moss - En la rose je fleurie. I flourish in the rose.
Moss - Non nobis solum. Not for us for oneself.
Mostyn - Auxilium meum a Domino. My help is from the Lord.
Mostyn - Heb Dduw heb ddin a Duw a digon. Without God, without anything, God is enough.
Mott - Spectemur agendo. Let us be judged by our actions.
Moubray - - Let the deed shaw.
Mounsey - Semper paratus. Always prepared.
Mowat - - Commit thy work to God.
Mowbray - Deus pascit corvos. God feeds the ravens.
Muckleston - Fideliter. Faithfully.
Mudge - - All's well.
O' Mulloy - Gearaig agus dog buad. Cut and burn to victory.
Mulloy - Malo mori quam foedari. Death rather than dishonour.
Mulock - In hoc signo vinces. Under this sign you shall conquer.
Munn - Omnia vincit veritas. Truth conquers all things.
Munro - - Dread God.
Mure - Ora et labora. Pray and labour.
Murray - - They by permission shine.
Murray - In utrumque paratus. Prepared for both.
Murray - Nosce teipsum. Know thyself.
Murray - Spero meliora. I hope for better things.
Musgrave - Sans changer. Without changing.
Musgrove - Nil desperandum. Never dispair.
Muterer - - Patience and resolution.
Myrton - Virtutis praemium. Virtues reward.
Sources:
Irish Family Mottoes "The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales."
By Tomás ó Baoill by Sir John Bernard Burke