A family motto on a signet ring is a short phrase, usually in Latin or Norman French, engraved on a scroll beneath or around the crest. It states what a family hoped to stand for: courage, faith, loyalty, or sometimes a sly pun on its own name. Below we explain where mottoes came from, how they appear on antique signet rings, and what some of the best-known ones mean.
In brief
- A motto is a short phrase, usually Latin or French, that sits on a scroll with a family’s crest or arms.
- On signet rings it is engraved in reverse beneath or around the crest, so it reads correctly in wax.
- Frangas non flectes, “you may break but you shall not bend”, belongs to the Leveson-Gower family.
- Many families share the same motto, so read it alongside the crest before drawing conclusions.
What is a family motto?
In heraldry the motto is the line of words that accompanies a coat of arms. It usually sits on a ribbon-like scroll below the shield, although in Scotland it is more often placed above the crest. It is the only part of an achievement of arms that speaks in words rather than pictures.
Many mottoes began as war cries, shouted to rally kinsmen on the field. Others grew out of the personal devices, or imprese, that Renaissance courtiers paired with a clever phrase. By the 18th and 19th centuries almost every armigerous family had one, and Victorian reference books such as Fairbairn’s Book of Crests and Elvin’s Handbook of Mottoes (1860) catalogued thousands.
English and Scottish practice
In England a motto has traditionally not been treated as a fixed part of the grant of arms, so families could adopt, change or drop one as they pleased. In Scotland it is different: the motto is recorded with the arms by the Lord Lyon, and changing it is a formal matter. That is why Scottish mottoes tend to be older, stranger and more stubbornly kept.
How mottoes appear on signet rings
A signet ring has very little room, so most engravers cut the crest alone and leave the motto out. When a motto is included, it usually runs along a small scroll beneath the crest. Some armorial seals, like our French Carnelian Armorial Signet, carry the quartered arms in full, here a greyhound for loyalty and a flaming heart for devotion, and let the pictures do the talking.
Scottish rings often show the crest inside a strap and buckle, with the motto lettered around the strap. This is the familiar clan crest badge, worn by members of a clan to show their allegiance to its chief. On English rings a circular garter around the crest is more often a borrowing of the same look than a sign of the Order of the Garter.
Cut backwards, read forwards
Because a signet is a seal, every letter has to be engraved in reverse and in mirror order, so the motto reads correctly when pressed into wax. Fine, even lettering on so small a surface is one of the clearest marks of a skilled seal engraver. It is also the first detail to soften with wear, so a crisp motto is a good sign of a well-kept stone.
If you would like a motto of your own, an unengraved antique ring is the natural starting point. Our Victorian 18K Banded Agate Signet of about 1870 has a plain black and white agate, left unengraved and ready for a crest, initials or a short motto cut by a hand engraver.
Before mottoes: devices and inscriptions
The earliest signets rarely carry mottoes at all. Medieval owners sealed with a personal device: an initial, a merchant’s mark or a few heraldic charges. Our Medieval Duhamel Silver Signet of about 1480 is engraved with the initial ‘L’, two stars and a heart, with clasped ‘fede’ hands on the shoulders. Its message of faith is carried by images rather than words.
Words did appear on rings, but more often as moral reminders or love vows than family slogans. The Rare Tudor Memento Mori Ring has a skull ringed by the inscription Memento Mori, “remember you must die”. It works much like a motto: a short, memorable line its owner chose to live by, worn in plain sight.
Love rings did the same. The Spanish Renaissance Betrothal Ring of about 1600 is engraved on the outside of the band with “Toma Mi Cora”, short for “take my heart”. You can read more about the language of such rings in our guide to the symbols of antique jewellery.
Famous mottoes and their meanings
The motto searched for most often is Frangas non flectes, “you may break, but you shall not bend”. It belongs to the Leveson-Gower family, whose titles include the Earls Granville and the Dukes of Sutherland. It is a fine example of the genre: four words, a clear promise of steadfastness, and a slightly defiant tone.
Mottoes that pun on the family name
Heraldry loves a joke, and some of the best mottoes play on the surname. The Cavendish family, Dukes of Devonshire, use Cavendo tutus, “safe by being cautious”. The Fane family, Earls of Westmorland, use Ne vile fano, “bring nothing base to the temple”. Spotting the pun can be the quickest route to identifying a seal.
Royal, Norman French and Scots mottoes
Norman French survives in the royal Dieu et mon droit, “God and my right”, and in the Garter’s Honi soit qui mal y pense, “shame on him who thinks evil of it”. The Frasers of Lovat use Je suis prest, “I am ready”. Clan Mackintosh offers the splendidly blunt Touch not the cat bot a glove, a warning not to touch the clan’s wildcat crest without a glove.
Common Latin mottoes
Many mottoes are shared by dozens of unrelated families. Among those you will meet most often on seals and signets are:
- Fortis et fidelis – strong and faithful
- Virtute et labore – by virtue and labour
- Nil desperandum – never despair
- Semper fidelis – always faithful
- Spes mea in Deo – my hope is in God
- Fide et amore – by faith and love
Mottoes beyond the family
Some of the most moving inscriptions belong to causes rather than families. During the Napoleonic Wars Prussians gave their gold to the state under the slogan Gold gab ich für Eisen, “I gave gold for iron”, and wore cast iron in return. Our Berlin Iron Signet Ring of about 1820 belongs to that story, its clover bezel holding a cross, a heart and an anchor for faith, hope and charity.
We tell the full story of that ring in I Gave Gold for Iron. It shows how a motto can travel from a battle cry or a campaign poster onto a ring worn for a lifetime.
How to identify a motto on an antique ring
Start by taking an impression in sealing wax or modelling clay, so the lettering reads the right way round. Note the exact wording and spelling, then look it up alongside the crest in a reference such as Fairbairn’s or Elvin’s. A motto on its own rarely points to one family, but motto and crest together often narrow the field to a handful.
Be cautious with tidy stories. A shared motto is not proof of descent, and a crest on a ring tells you who commissioned it, not necessarily who wore it later. For more on dating the gold and the cutting, see our guide to dating a gold signet ring.
Choosing an antique signet ring
Whether you want a crest that is already history or a plain stone to make your own, our signet rings and intaglio rings are chosen for their engraving as much as their gold. Earlier pieces sit in our medieval and Renaissance rings, and larger sizes in antique men’s rings. Our antique signet ring buyer’s guide covers the wider field.
Every piece of antique jewelry we sell is described honestly, with its condition, measurements and the history we can stand behind. If you would like to see a ring in person, we welcome visits to our Shoreditch showroom by appointment.
Frequently asked questions
What does Frangas non flectes mean?
It means “you may break, but you shall not bend”. It is the motto of the Leveson-Gower family, including the Earls Granville and the Dukes of Sutherland, and speaks of steadfastness under pressure.
Can I add a motto to my signet ring?
Yes. In England anyone may adopt a motto, and a skilled hand engraver can cut one on an unengraved antique stone or gold bezel. In Scotland a motto forms part of a registered grant of arms, so it is best to take advice before using one formally.
Where does the motto go on a signet ring?
Usually on a small scroll beneath the crest, or around it in a strap and buckle on Scottish rings. Because the ring is a seal, the letters are cut in reverse.
Does a motto prove which family a ring belonged to?
Not on its own. Many families share the same motto, so it should be read together with the crest, any initials and the date of the ring before drawing conclusions.