What are the origins of this fun-filled festive custom?
Motto: “Freedom and unity”
Vermont adopted its official motto in 1788. It was incorporated in the state seal which was designed by one of the state founders, Ira Allen.
Motto: Alki or Al-ki ( “bye and bye” or “into the future”)
The Washington State Legislature reads: “Settlers from the schooner Exact named their settlement on Alki Point, New York. The new settlement was slower to grow than its East Coast counterpart, however, so the name was changed to New York-Alki, meaning 'into the future'—the 1850s version of the term 'bye and bye' or, 'I will see you, bye and bye.'”
Motto: “Forward”
Wyoming declared the simple and positive word “Forward” its state motto in 1851.
Motto: Sic Semper Tyrannis (“Thus always to tyrants”)
Virginia's Latin motto, adopted in 1776, essentially means that tyrannical leaders will be overthrown.
Motto: “Equal rights”
The “Equality State” has a motto to match its nickname. Wyoming was the first state to grant women the right to vote, back in 1869.
Sources: (State Symbols USA) (50States)
Motto: Montani Semper Liberi (“Mountaineers are always free”)
The Mountain State adopted its official state motto in 1872. It features in West Virginia’s state seal and on its flag.
Motto: “Industry”
“Industry” was declared the official state motto of Utah in 1959. It appears in the state's coat of arms, on the state seal, and the state flag.
Motto: “Friendship”
"Friendship" has been the official state motto of Texas since 1930.
Motto: “Agriculture and commerce”
Tennessee’s state motto was officially adopted in 1987. The motto is represented on the state seal.
Motto: “Under God the people rule”
Both the motto and the design of the seal was suggested by Dr. Joseph Ward, the founder of Yankton College.
Motto: Dum Spiro Spero (“While I breathe I hope”)
The state actually has two Latin mottos. The other one is "Animis Opibusque Parati" (“Prepared in mind and resources”). They have both been part of the state seal since 1777.
Motto: “Hope”
Rhode Island keeps it simple with the motto “Hope.” It can be found on both the state seal and state flag.
Motto: Alis volat propriis ("She flies with her own wings'')
Oregon replaced its previous motto, "The Union," with "She flies with her own wings'' in 1987.
Motto: "Virtue, liberty, and independence"
The state’s motto was officially adopted in 1875 and features on Pennsylvania’s seal and flag.
Motto: Labor Omnia Vincit ("Work conquers all")
Oklahoma’s state motto has its roots in a phrase from Virgil’s ‘Georgics’: "Labor omnia vicit / improbus" ("Steady work overcame all things" or “Work conquers all”). It features in small letters in the center of the state seal.
Motto: "With God all things are possible"
Ohio adopted its official state motto in 1959. In 1997, the American Civil Liberties Union sued the state, claiming the motto violated the first amendment to the US Constitution, which guarantees religious freedom and separation of church and state. The court ruled that the motto does not endorse a specific God, and therefore doesn’t violate the first amendment.
Motto: "Liberty and union now and forever, one and inseparable"
According to the North Dakota state website, the motto “refers to our free nation which cannot be divided.”
Motto: Esse quam videri
North Carolina’s motto is an extract from a phrase in Cicero's book ‘On Friendship.’ The full part reads "Virtute enim ipsa non tam multi praediti esse quam videri volunt," which roughly translates to “Few are those who wish to be endowed with virtue rather than to seem so."
Motto: Crescit eundo ("It grows as it goes")
The Latin motto Crescit eundo, which translates to "It grows as it goes," has been part of New Mexico’s official seal and coat of arms since 1887.
Motto: "All for our country"
The roots of Nevada's 1886 state motto are unclear, but it’s believed to reflect the pro-Union sentiment at the time.
Motto: Excelsior ("Ever upward")
New York’s state motto is just one Latin word: Excelsior. It translates to "Ever Upward."
Motto: "Equality before the law"
Nebraska's state motto was adopted in 1867, and has since been part of the state seal and flag.
Motto: "Liberty and prosperity"
While New Jersey's state motto was not officially adopted, it features on the state seal, so it’s widely accepted as such.
Motto: Oro y Plata ("Gold and Silver")
Montana’s state motto is Oro y Plata, which is Spanish for “Gold and Silver.” Given the state’s mining history, it’s easy to see why.
Motto: "Live free or die"
The state adopted the official motto "Live free or die" in 1945, when World War II was about to end. The motto was taken from a toast by New Hampshire's Revolutionary War hero, General John Stark.
Motto: Salus Populi Suprema Lex Esto ("The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law")
Missouri's state motto was adopted in 1822 as part of the Great Seal of the State of Missouri.
Motto: Virtute et armis (“By valor and arms”)
The state’s Latin motto has been part of Mississippi’s coat of arms since 1894.
Motto: Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem ("By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty")
The Latin motto Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem was adopted by the Provincial Congress in 1775.
Motto: Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam, circumspice ("If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you”)
The Latin phrase features on both the coat of arms and the state’s seal, which was adopted in 1835.
Motto: Dirigo (“I Direct" or "I Lead”)
Maine’s state motto is in Latin and can be found in the state’s seal and flag. Maine became a state on March 15, 1820.
Motto: L'Etoile du Nord ("The Star of the North")
Minnesota’s French-language motto was adopted in 1861. Minnesota is also known for its nickname, "The North Star State."
Motto: Fatti Maschii Parole Femine (“Strong deeds, gentle words”)
According to official state documents, Maryland adopted the Calvert family motto Fatti maschii parole femine, which loosely translates as “Manly deeds, womanly words.” It generally means “Strong deeds, gentle words.”
Motto: “Confidence”
Louisiana’s state motto, together with the state seal, was adopted in 1902.
Motto: “United we stand, divided we fall”
Kentucky’s official motto is taken from the 1768 song `Liberty Song,´ by John Dickinson. In 2002, the state also adopted the Latin motto Deo gratiam habeamus (“Let us be grateful to God”).
Motto: “Crossroads of America”
The state adopted the motto in 1937. The city of Indianapolis was originally nicknamed “Crossroads of America” as the hub for major interstate highways.
Motto: “Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain”
Iowa’s official motto was determined by a three-member Senate committee. It has been part of the state’s seal since 1847.
Motto: Esto Perpetua (“Let it be perpetual”)
Esto Perpetua (Latin for “Let it be perpetual”) has been part of the Idaho state seal and flag since the late 1800s.
Motto: Ad Astra Per Aspera (“To the stars through difficulty” )
The official state motto of Kansas was adopted in the first Kansas legislative session, which took place in 1861.
Motto: Ua Mau ke Ea o ka 'Āina i ka Pono (“The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness”)
Hawaii’s official state motto is written in its native language. The phrase is attributed to King Kamehameha III, back in 1843.
Motto: “Wisdom, justice, and moderation”
Though Georgia never made its state motto official, it does feature on the state flag and seal.
Motto: “Liberty and independence”
Delaware adopted the state motto in 1847. It was the first state to ratify the US Constitution in 1787.
Motto: Nil sine Numine (“Nothing without the Deity”)
While the Latin phrase Nil sine Numine is often translated as “Nothing without Providence,” a government committee report states that Colorado’s motto was intended to be translated as “Nothing without the Deity.”
Motto: Qui transtulit sustinet (“He who is transplanted still sustains”)
While the origins of the state motto are uncertain, it’s been suggested that it drew inspiration from Psalm 80: “Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it.”
Motto: Eureka
California adopted the official state motto Eureka in 1963. Eureka is a Greek term that means “I have found it.” The motto is a reference to the discovery of gold in California.
Motto: “In God we trust”
The Sunshine State’s motto was adopted in 2006. It replaced Florida’s previous motto “In God is our Trust,” which had been part of the state seal since 1868.
Motto: Regnat Populus (“The people rule”)
Regnat Populus, the Latin motto of ‘The Natural State,’ translates to English as “The People Rule.”
Motto: “North to the future”
The motto was created by Juneau journalist Richard Peter in 1967 and adopted during the Alaska Purchase Centennial. It’s meant to represent Alaska as a land of promise.
Motto: Audemus jura nostra defendere (“We dare defend our rights”)
Alabama’s state motto was inspired by a poem by the 18th-century author Sir William Jones. It reads “What constitutes a state? / Men who their duties know, but know their rights, and knowing, dare maintain.”
Motto: Ditat Deus (“God enriches”)
Arizona’s state motto Ditat Deus (Latin for “God enriches”) reads in the official state seal of Arizona, which also features the year of admission to the United States—1912.
Mottos are powerful words. So much so that many of us have a few we call our own. These represent beliefs, ideals, and values we ought to live by, and that's why they mean so much to us. Of course, things are no different when it comes to US states—each has its own motto. The history behind how some of these mottos came to be adopted officially is indeed very interesting, and in this gallery you'll get to know all about it.
Click through and find out the official mottos of every US state, and their meaning.
The official mottos of every US state (and their meaning)
Do you know yours?
LIFESTYLE United states
Mottos are powerful words. So much so that many of us have a few we call our own. These represent beliefs, ideals, and values we ought to live by, and that's why they mean so much to us. Of course, things are no different when it comes to US states—each has its own motto. The history behind how some of these mottos came to be adopted officially is indeed very interesting, and in this gallery you'll get to know all about it.
Click through and find out the official mottos of every US state, and their meaning.