Irish Translation Forum

Can anyone confirm if Nec Timio Nec Sperno ( I neither Fear Nor Spern) Is Really the O'Connor Family Motto. and if it is would that apply to all the different O'Connor family sects?

O'Connor186 wrote:Can anyone confirm if Nec Timio Nec Sperno ( I neither Fear Nor Spern) Is Really the O'Connor Family Motto. and if it is would that apply to all the different O'Connor family sects?

Mottos, like coats of arms, only belonged to the man who originally earned them and to his direct, male-line descendents. They're only yours if you're the first born son of the first born son (and so on and so on) back to the man who was originally awarded them. They don't apply to entire families.

BTW, that's Latin.

Redwolf

I don't know about that. Family mottoes aren't solely a heraldic introduction -- some of the older mottoes, like the "Lámh ḋearg abú!" of the Uí Néill, would almost certainly have applied to whole families, wouldn't they?

I don't know whether this particular motto was taken along with arms or not, so I can't say for sure... but in general I don't think "family mottoes" are nearly as clear-cut as "family crests."

Abigeál

Abigeál wrote:I don't know about that. Family mottoes aren't solely a heraldic introduction -- some of the older mottoes, like the "Lámh ḋearg abú!" of the Uí Néill, would almost certainly have applied to whole families, wouldn't they?

I don't know whether this particular motto was taken along with arms or not, so I can't say for sure... but in general I don't think "family mottoes" are nearly as clear-cut as "family crests."

Abigeál

Typically, the ones that are in Latin or French were part of the arms, so they're subject to the same heraldic rules.

There may have been clan war cries and such, but those, of course, would have been in Irish.

Redwolf

neither fear, nor spurn yes it's latin

heraldry is a huge area, was quite useful in the middles ages - especially for advertising (porsche: black stallion on a gold field - we make the best horses in the world or now, we make the best horsepower in all the world). but later, many royal houses decided to give out titles, and with the title goes the shield. the shield usually tells the story, in color (each has a specific meaning) and figure (again, each has a specific meaning) about the family. latin was widely used because of rome, and later because of the church, so it was used for mottos on the shield. anyone could identify you.

lot's of fascinating sites about this. btw, church heraldy is slightly different. and the same idea of colors and figures is used in the stained glass windows of churches, to teach about christianity.

just look up your family name.

There are seven septs of O'Connors. Are you sure you're looking at the right one? If you need further help, let me know. Since it is my family name as well, I have gathered a lot of info that I would be happy to share.

i found another motto for o'connor but wheather its the correct one or different
O Dia Gach Aon Cabhair translates into 'All Help Comes From God'.

There are seven septs of O'Connors. Are you sure you're looking at the right one? If you need further help, let me know. Since it is my family name as well, I have gathered a lot of info that I would be happy to share.

I know that the O'Connor Kerry people were pushed up into northern Kerry. My people are from the western side of MT Brandon, which seems to have been not only a physical barrier to the rest of Kerry but a cultural one also... would they to have been considered O'Connor Kerry?

thanks

Of course they are.Theyre just individuals from northern Kerry that sometime in the past few hundred years ended up living in Corca Dhuibhne and Brandon.There are O Connor families all over the county.[list=][/list]