I know your family doesn’t need one, but family mottos are unifying, empowering, helpful, fun, and unique!
Our family is still in the process of fine-tuning our family motto, with a mission statement to follow (hopefully) soon thereafter.
I thought it would be beneficial to hear what other families use as their family motto, in the hopes that it will inspire ours. Maybe it will inspire you to create your own family mottos too.
You can have a family meeting to talk about good mottos or even talk about the difference between a motto and a family slogan. Or maybe it can be a family mission statement, too!
What is a Family motto?
What is a Family motto?First things first – what is a family motto?
A family motto is usually a short quip, something easy to memorize, repeat, and recall, that typifies your family’s beliefs or view about life.
Some family mottoes are silly. Other family mottoes are inspirational. And many family mottoes encourage better behavior and choices among family members.
Choose a motto that incorporates your family values and is a constant reminder of your family name and your family life.
A family motto is something that the whole family will use in their daily life and can be simple words or words to help everyone get through tough times. (You can also have a personal motto or even talk about creating a family crest as well)
How do you choose a family motto?
There isn’t really a wrong way to pick a family motto.
I would venture many mottoes happen naturally over time as someone in the family struggles with something and is frequently cheered on by the same phrase.
Parents may organically have their own life mottoes or philosophies they pass onto their children. Some use their favorite scripture verse as their motto.
Other families need help in intentionally creating and crafting a family motto that is all their own. Some families will inevitably have the same slogan, but as long as the family decides it best fits them, who cares if the [Fagans] also use it?
A family motto is best chosen with the help of all family members.
We asked our five-year-olds for input, but, well, they are five and don’t really get what we’re getting at. However, we involve them nonetheless. It’s a reminder to us to keep it simple so our children understand it.
Some good starting points are writing down adjectives that describe your family, values your family believes in, and goals you want to achieve.
From there it’s a matter of fine-tuning, whittling down unnecessary words (mottoes should be short!), and making sure you like how it rolls off the tongue.
The Fagan Family Motto
The Fagan Family MottoDid you know that there are traditional surname family mottoes? I didn’t either until doing a little searching on the internet just now!
Look up your name on this genealogy site and see what it says for yours!
I love reading all the great mottoes for the multitude of family names listed there.
Fagan is traditionally “Faithful to God and country.”
My maiden name’s family motto is “I will again hope” or “Be just and fear not.” I love all three of those!
My husband and I are still fine-tuning our family motto, but that’s kind of the great thing about it – they can change. There’s no rule saying they can’t.
In fact, some families create new mottos every school year, in order to better meet the challenges they may be facing in the coming year. I think that’s a pretty cool idea.
Right now our Fagan family motto is “Stay Strong. Work Together. Trust God. Family’s Forever.”
My husband really wants it to rhyme, so we talked about “Admit Wrongs” instead of “Trust God” but trusting God is pretty important in our family (as is admitting wrongs, but, you know, God trumps).
I’m still a little iffy about the “Family’s Forever” part simply because it’s not a verb-noun pattern like the rest of it is, although the reminder that “family is forever” is good. This creating a family motto things is tricky!
For a long time, I think our family motto was “We don’t give up.” We told our children that often, but there are moments when we should give up.
When our twins were younger, I think our motto was “If you make a mess, then you clean it up.” I liked this one because a mess could be more than just a spill, it could be a situational “mess” like hurting someone’s feelings, or making a poor choice which then could be “cleaned up” through apologies or certain actions.
One fun thing we do as a family to help with family unity is to put our hands all in the middle, one on top of each other, and then have someone count to three, and then yell “Fagans!” and lift our hands high into the air.
Our children love doing this, and so do my husband and I.
Family Motto Examples
I asked around in some groups on Facebook for what people used as their family mottoes. I wanted to know what real families were using, not some stock suggestions of feel-good memes.
I wanted real families, with real mottoes, to see the variety and differences among them, and to be inspired by their creativity and insight.
I hope you’ll be inspired by them in order to create a family motto unique to your family.
Here are 35 Family Motto Examples from Real Families
“We can do hard things.” – Both Kerry S. and Shannon Q. use this one in their families, based on the scripture Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
“Davises are kind, hard-working, and Christ-loving.” – Celeste Davis
“May we dedicate our lives to serving the Lord and not worry about offending the devil.” – This is a quote by James E. Faust that Montserrat W. uses as their family motto.
“Everything real was imagined first.” – This is a quote from the Velveteen Rabit that Lena G. has hanging in their kitchen.
“Press Forward Slades” – A motto from the Slade Family
“Kindness, always kindness.” – Ann W.
“Do what is right, let the consequence follow.” – Based on a Hymn, used by blogger Lara at OverstuffedLife.com.
“Enjoy, don’t destroy.” – Melissa of Fireflies and Mudpies
“It might not be pretty, but we will survive.” – Catherine E.
“By small and simple things are great things brought to pass” – Amy F uses Alma 37:6 as their family verse and family motto.
“This, too, shall pass” – Sarah L admit it’s not really inspiring but it gets her family through.
“Your future is as bright as your faith” – Quote from Thomas S. Monson that Jacquelin A. uses in her home.
“It’s not who’s right but what’s right.” – Dawn M.
“Remember who you are.” – Dawn M.
“God first, family second, self third.” – Dawn M.
“Life is Good” – Sara D.
“For with God, nothing shall be impossible.” – Luke 1:37 used by Diane P.
“Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should” – Kelley K admits it’s not the most inspirational but it’s used many times.
“Be good and learn something” – Lisa D.
“I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.” – 1 Nephi 3:7 used in Pamela H’s home.
“Don’t wait to be told” – Helen T
“If you see something needs to be done, do it!”– Helen T
“Fake it til you make it”– Helen T
“If you want a friend, be a friend” – Helen T
“I feel healthy. I feel happy. I feel terrific!” – Used whenever someone started feeling sick or sad or whatever by Helen T’s family.
“Don’t go away angry, just go away.” – a family with a big sense of humor.
“We’re happy. We’re obedient. We’re responsible. We give service.” – Harris Family Camping Rules that are used all the time.
“Do something nice for somebody.” – Tarrah M’s family scripture is Mosiah 2:17 so their motto goes along with it. The father tells them this every day before school and follows up afterward.
“We lived after the manner of happiness” – 2 Nephi 5:27 is the verse Cristi VH uses for their family motto.
“Life is hard and then you die” – Alyse K’s motto growing up which helped her have a sense of humor about things.
“Come what may and love it” – is Alyse K’s more positive version of the previous one, a quote from Joseph B. Wirthlin
“Life is full of surprises!” – Jill N.
“Always follow the Prophet” – along with their family cheer “Go Cougars! Go Hansens! Follow the Prophet!”
“What we do with our lives is our gift to God” – Kathleen C.
“Be strong! Be brave! Be true!” – TaNiel D
What is your family motto? How did you create one unique to your family?
*Photos by Jennifer Borget of Baby Making Machine.
Jenny @ Unremarkable Files says
I liked reading all of these real, actual mottos from families. We tried to create one once, but the closest we got was “Evanses like pie” and that wasn’t quite all that I wanted to say (although it is true.)
ophelia says
Patience, Kindness, Acceptance, Grace, and Humor
Each word represents the best quality a person in our family possesses AND the things the other 4 need to work on. So if you are “Patience” it acknowledges your gift while also giving you 4 more things to work on. 😉
Katelyn Fagan says
Love it! Those are fantastic values to possess… or work on possessing.
Betsy Lou says
I was raised in an abusive home. My motto when raising my children was “Our home will always be a safe place.” Now that my children are grown and I’ve aged and world priorities are changing, my replacement motto is “Enough is as good as a feast.” This helps me curb spending, eating, working too hard, etc. Interestingly, my eldest daughter married a man who grew up in a very loving home and can’t fathom what it’s like to live in fear of one’s parents but has heard my stories. He has expressed to me that he will keep my motto and ensure that their home too, will always be a safe place. That made me cry.
Katelyn Fagan says
It’s wonderful to hear that you broke free from your upbringing and did better for your children. Of that you should be tremendously proud. It isn’t easy to do.
I love your new motto of “Enough is as good as a feast” because it really does apply to so many things!
Stefanie says
Shortly after our family was sealed in August 2013, I read the quote by Joseph F. Smith “We are living for eternity, not merely for the moment.” I thought it was perfect & adopted it as our Family Motto.
Katelyn Fagan says
Oh that is a great one!
Melina W says
Thank you for your post about family mottos. My husband and I are reading a book together called “The Secrets of Happy Families,” by Bruce Feiler. It is an excellent book! The chapter on creating a family motto has had us stuck for a few weeks, but after reading your post, I think we can make some headway.
Our vision is to make a graphic where the main motto is Be Your Best Self, and all around it will be other phrases that support this main idea, such as Never Stop Improving; Kindness Begins With Me; Have I Done Any Good in the World Today?; Honesty is the Best Policy; Dare to Do Right… etc. It is a work in progress! Thank you for sharing lots of great ideas. ?
Shaylen Fidel says
Growing up my family motto was always Be Better in reference to always working to improve yourself from the day before and work to become the best you can be. This often gave me the courage to do something hard that I knew would help me become a better person. I also love that it was so short and easy to use throughout the day. I recently got married and do not have children and my husband and I are working on creating a motto for the two of us. I really like “never fear, only believe” as a motto and we might end up using that.
Katelyn Fagan says
“Be Better” is a perfect little motto! Love it! And I like the one you and your husband are working on crafting!