Selected Mottoes (with Translations): "M" Surnames
| Family Name | Original Language (Usually Latin or Old French) | English Translation (if needed) |
| Mackey | Manu forti | With a strong hand |
| Madden | Chirsto duce vincamus | With Christ I will conquer |
| Maher | In periculis audax | Bold in dangers |
| O'Mahony | Lasair romuin go buad | The torch before us triumphantly |
| O'Malley | Terra marique potens | Valiant by sea and land |
| Mallon | -- | Brave and faithful |
| Malone | Fidelis ad urnam | Faithful to the tomb |
| Mangan | Manus hoec inimica tyrannis | This hand is hostile to tyrants |
| Manley | Manus hoec inimica tyrannis | This hand is hostile to tyrants |
| Manning | Viva ut vivas | Live that you may live forever |
| Marshall | Utilem pete finem | Seek a useful end |
| Martin | Auxilium meum a Domino | My help is from the Lord |
| Mason | Demeure par la verite | Stick by the truth |
| Masterson | Per ardua | Through difficulties |
| Mathews | Deo adjuvante non timendum | With God assisting we must not fear |
| Maxwell | Reviresco | I flourish again |
| May | Fortis et fidelis | Brave and faithful |
| Meade | Toujours pret | Always ready |
| O'Meara | Opmia spolia | The richest of the spoil |
| Miller | Sibimet merces industria | Industry is a recompense to itself |
| Milligan | Regarde bien | Attend well |
| Mill(s) | Glandium musqrum nutrix | The sword is the muse of muses |
| Mitchell | Sola virtus nobiltat | Virtue alone ennobles |
| Moffatt | Spero meliora | I hope for better things |
| Molloy | Gearaig agus dog buad | Cut and burn to victory |
| Moloney | In Domino et non in arcu sperabo | In God and not in my bow I will hope |
| Monaghan | Felis demulcta mitis | The stroked cat is meek |
| Montgomery | Gardez bien | Guard well |
| Mooney | Sola virtus nobiltat | Virtue alone ennobles |
| Moore | Conlan aboo | Conlan forever |
| Moore | Spec mea Deus | I hope in God |
| Moran | Lucent in tenebris | They shine in darkness |
| Morgan | Fidus et audax | Faithful and bold |
| Moriarty | Scandit sublima virtus | Virtue scales great heights |
| Morley | S'ils te mordent mords les | If they bite thee, bite them |
| Moroney | Amicis semper fidelis | Always faithful to my friends |
| Morris | Si Deus nobiscum qui contra nos | If God be with us, who can be against us |
| Morton | Virtutis praemium | Virtues reward |
| Mulcahy | Conlan aboo | Conlan forever |
| Muldoon | Pro fide et patria | For faith and fatherland |
| Mulholland | Semper praecinctus | Ever ready |
| Mullally | Intaminatis fulget honoribus | It shines with unstained honours |
| Mullan | Vivere sat vincere | To conquer is to live enough |
| Mullins | Ne cede malis | Yield not to adversity |
| Mulvey | Pro aris et focis | For our altars and our home |
| Mulvihill | Pro aris et focis | For our altars and our home |
| Murdock | Omnia pro bono | All things for the good |
| Murphy | Fortis et hospitalis | Brave and hospitable |
| Murray | Ditat fide servata | Tried fidelity enriches |
| Murtagh | 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 | 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: Fairbairn's Book of Crests of the Families of Great Britain and Ireland (1993, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co, Inc.) and The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales by Sir Bernard Burke (1996, Heritage Books: Bowie MD) | ||
