House of Gordon Australia

MOTTO(S):

I use the plural because there is not just one Gordon Motto. By and large the Clan's main Motto is 'BYDAND', a word that confounds many people as it supposedly has a number of meanings. Many believe it means Stand Fast or remaining but in fact it is believed to come from old lowland scottish where 'and' and 'ing' were the same so Bydand is Byding which some linquist say means remaining, staying, enduring, or abiding or even steadfast, faithful or loyal. Some say it means 'stand fast' but other linquists debate this as its oldest form is 'bidand' and means armed and ready. One interesting story even states that it was derived from the Gaelic Order' Byde and Fecht' meaning 'stand and fight and came about when one of its leaders was issuing the order but was shot and stopped part way saying only Byde and....

Many people believe that there is a Clan Motto but in fact a motto entitlement is the right only of an individual knight, although now days people believe they have a right to use the family crest motto and it seems this has become an accepted practice. In fact under the old system only the head of the family used these or his offspring and these were so marked ( see Crests) The only entitlement of Clansmen was the Clan Badge or Clan Plant which was often presented by the Chief and worn to show loyalty. The Clan Badge has the word Bydand on it.

The Clan Chief is the Marquis of Huntly who has on his motto, 'Animo non Astutia" - by courage not craft. Many people use this crest and motto although they are not legally entitled to do so. The family as it expanded formed their own family units and took their own crests and mottos and became known as Cadet Branches. These are usually titled by their location ie, The Gordons of Park, The Gordons of Abergeldie etc. Most of these branches had their own mottos as shown in the attached table.

Another motto that is often used is "Do well and let them say...." This has a number of problems as some say it should read, will instead of well and some say sup instead of say. This one is favoured by our US Branch.

Gordons of:
Abergeldie - God with us or God for us
Aitkinhead - Dread God
Ardmeallie - Byd Bee
Auchanassie - Bydand
Auchendolly - Dread God
Auchenreath - No known motto
Auchintoul - Bydand
Auchintoil - Byde together
Avochie - Byde Together
Badenscoth - Still Bydand
Beldorney - In hocs spes mea
Balmoor - Non Astutie ( Do not be sly or sinister)
Birkenburn - Bydand
Braco - Sequor ( Follow)
Bucks and Notts - Dread God
Buthlaw - in recto decus
Cadiz (Spain) part of wardhouse - I Hope
Cainbulg - Fortuna sequator ( Follow without fear or follow the fortunes and live)
Cairnfield - Dum vigilo tuts ( while I'm vigilant i'm safe)
Cardoness - unknown
Carleton - unknown
Clifton (NZ) - Maneo ( I stand firm)
Cluny - Do well and let them say....
Clunie - Sub Tegmine ( under covert protection of the law)
Coclararchie - Byde
Cormalzie - Dread God
Culvennan - Dread God
Craig - Byde
Craiglaw - Dread God
Croughly - Bydand
Dalpholly - Corde manuque ( with heart and hand)
Dauch - unknown
Dengeuch - Maneo non fugio ( I stand firm I do not fly)
Drumearn - unknown
Earlston - Dread God
Edinglassie - Aut mors,Aut vita decus ( either death or honourable life)
Embo - Forward without fear
Farskank - Bydand to the last
Gight - Bydand
Glastirem - Divisa conjungo ( I bring people together or I heal divisions)
Glenbucket - victrix prudential ( patience conquors
Glentanner - ?
Gordonbank - legibus et armis ( law and arms)
Gordonstoun - Sans crainte ( without fear)
Hallshead and Esslemont - Bydand
Holm - Time Deum ( Fear God
Invergordon - Corde Manuque ( with heart and hand)
Knockespock - Dum vigilo tutus and Non fraude sed laude (not by deciet but by praise)
Lesmoir - Bydand
Letterfourie - Dum sisto vigilo ( while I stand I watch)
Lochinvar - Dread God
Manar - Bydand
Millrig - Dum vigilo tutus
Nethermuir - Majores sequor ( I follow my ancestors)
Newark - gradatim plena (I increase by degrees)
Newtimber - ?
Newton - I hope
Niton - Animo non astutia ( By Courage not craft)
Park - Sic Tutus (Thus safe)
Pitlurg - I hope
Rothiemay - Absit fraus (Let all deception be far off)
Rothney & Sheelagreen - Vel pax, vel bellum ( The same will be done in war and peace)
Sherm - Tam pace quam praelio ( as welll in peace and war)
Sorbie - forward without fear
Tacarchie - Ever faithful
Tellarchie - Ever Faithful
Terpersie - Non fraude sed laude ( Not by deciet by by honour)
Torquahon - fear God
Wardhouse & Kildrummy - In hoc spes, mia ( In this my hope)
Whiteley - Prudentia fraudis nescia ( prudence will know no defeat)
Wincombe Park - Dread God
Lichiston - Bydand
Tilliangus - Nuco Midi grala quies ( Now there is rest for me)
Earl of Aboyne - Stant Caetera tigo ( I uphold the house)