In the U.S., all states have a motto, and each motto has a meaning. ScienceStruck furnishes you with both, the motto and the meaning of the 50 states and 5 inhabited territories of the United States.
Quick Fact
Three states, South Carolina, Kentucky, and North Dakota have two official mottos; whereas the territory of Northern Mariana Islands doesn’t have one at all.
A motto is basically a sentence or a phrase that encompasses the ideas and beliefs of an institution or entity. The United States of America comprises 50 states, federal district of Washington D.C., and 14 territories out of which only 6 are inhabited. All the states and territories have their unique flags, seals, and the state mottoes. They also have nicknames which have been coined from their respective local cultures, history, economic and political background, and natural resources. The motto of the United States of America is “In God We Trust”.
A lot of these mottos have been derived from the languages of Latin, Greek, Samoan, Spanish, Hawaiian, and English of course. Go through the following list of mottos and their respective meanings.
List of U.S. State Mottos
Alabama
Motto: “Audemus jura nostra defendere”
Meaning: We dare defend our rights
Alaska
Motto: “North to the future”
Meaning: – – –
Arizona
Motto: “Ditat Deus”
Meaning: God enriches
Arkansas
Motto: “Regnat populus”
Meaning: The people rule
California
Motto: “Eureka (εὕρηκα heúrēka)”
Meaning: I have found it
Colorado
Motto: “Nil sine numine”
Meaning: Nothing without providence
Connecticut
Motto: “Qui transtulit sustinet”
Meaning: He who transplanted sustains
Delaware
Motto: “Liberty and Independence”
Meaning: – – –
Florida
Motto: “In God We Trust”
Meaning: – – –
Georgia
Motto: “Wisdom, Justice, Moderation”
Meaning: – – –
Hawaii
Motto: “Ua mau ke ea o ka ʻāina i ka pono”
Meaning: The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness
Idaho
Motto: “Esto perpetua”
Meaning: Let it be perpetual
Illinois
Motto: “State Sovereignty, National Union”
Meaning: – – –
Indiana
Motto: “The Crossroads of America”
Meaning: – – –
Iowa
Motto: “Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain”
Meaning: – – –
Kansas
Motto: “Ad astra per aspera”
Meaning: To the stars through difficulties
Kentucky
Motto: “United we stand, divided we fall”
“Deo gratiam habeamus”
Meaning: Let us be grateful to God
Louisiana
Motto: “Union, justice, confidence”
Meaning: – – –
Maine
Motto: “Dirigo”
Meaning: I lead
Maryland
Motto: “Fatti maschii, parole femine”
Meaning: Manly deeds, womanly words
Massachusetts
Motto: “Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem”
Meaning: By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty
Michigan
Motto: “Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice”
Meaning: If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you
Minnesota
Motto: “L’étoile du Nord”
Meaning: The star of the North
Mississippi
Motto: “Virtute et armis”
Meaning: By valor and arms
Missouri
Motto: “Salus populi suprema lex esto”
Meaning: Let the welfare of the people be the supreme law
Montana
Motto: “Oro y plata”
Meaning: Gold and silver
Nebraska
Motto: “Equality before the law”
Meaning: – – –
Nevada
Motto: “All For Our Country”
Meaning: – – –
New Hampshire
Motto: “Live Free or Die”
Meaning: – – –
New Jersey
Motto: “Liberty and prosperity”
Meaning: – – –
New Mexico
Motto: “Crescit eundo”
Meaning: It grows as it goes
New York
Motto: “Excelsior”
Meaning: Ever upward
North Carolina
Motto: “Esse quam videri”
Meaning: To be, rather than to seem
North Dakota
Motto: “Liberty and union, now and forever, one and inseparable”
Serit ut alteri saeclo prosit”
Meaning: One sows for the benefit of another age
Ohio
Motto: “With God, all things are possible”
Meaning: – – –
Oklahoma
Motto: “Labor omnia vincit”
Meaning: Labor conquers all things
Oregon
Motto: “Alis volat propriis”
Meaning: She flies with her own wings
Pennsylvania
Motto: “Virtue, liberty, and independence”
Meaning: – – –
Rhode Island
Motto: “Hope”
Meaning: – – –
South Carolina
Motto: “Dum spiro spero”
“Animis opibusque parati”
Meaning: While I breathe, I hope
Ready in soul and resource
South Dakota
Motto: “Under God the people rule”
Meaning: – – –
Tennessee
Motto: “Agriculture and Commerce”
Meaning: – – –
Texas
Motto: “Friendship”
Meaning: – – –
Utah
Motto: “Industry”
Meaning: – – –
Vermont
Motto: “Freedom and Unity”
Meaning: – – –
Virginia
Motto: “Sic semper tyrannis”
Meaning: Thus always to tyrants
Washington
Motto: “Al-ki”
Meaning: By and by
West Virginia
Motto: “Montani semper liberi”
Meaning: Mountaineers are always free
Wisconsin
Motto: “Forward”
Meaning: – – –
Wyoming
Motto: “Equal Rights”
Meaning: – –
List of U.S. Territory Mottos
American Samoa
Motto: “Samoa, Muamua Le Atua”
Meaning: Samoa, let God be first
District of Columbia
Motto: “Justitia Omnibus”
Meaning: Justice for All
Guam
Motto: “Where America’s Day Begins”
Meaning: – – –
Puerto Rico
Motto: “Joannes Est Nomen Eius”
Meaning: John is his name
Virgin Islands
Motto: “United in Pride and Hope”
Meaning: – – –
State slogans are more related to tourism, but mottos have a history behind them and are very important. So whether you’re a tourist or a resident of a state in the US, knowing these mottos and their meanings is a plus point. Also, if you are someone who has an assignment on the States of the U.S., don’t forget to mention all these mottos in your piece.