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| Mottos |
| Like the crest, the motto accompanies the coat of arms, and is not given out seprately. It is therefor the Chief's own personal property. However, also like the crest, it can be used as a symbol for the entire Clan, and the motto is usually chosen to be relevant in that way. Clan Oliphant has about 9 seperate mottos, as will be shown below. |
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| "Tout Pourvoir" |
| The above motto is the Chiefly motto of the Lords Oliphant. It is from the French 'tout' meaning 'all', and 'pourvoir' meaning 'to provide'. This motto has been matriculated in the arms of the Lords Oliphant, and afterwords in the undifferenced Chiefly arms as well as that of Gask for a period of time. The origin is not known for certain, however this is a far more practical motto for a Clan than those of most other Chiefs. This motto was also used by Lawrence Oliphant, an Esquire in Liverpool, and was matriculated by him prior to 1790. |
| "Provide for All" |
| "A Tout Pouvoir" |
| "All things are possible" |
| The motto above is that of the Oliphants of Gask. This motto was used by the early Oliphants of Gask. Later, whence the Gask line became Chiefs, they changed the Gask motto to "Tout Pourvoir" to be identical to that of the Chiefly Arms. However, it has since changed back to "A tout pouvoir", as can be seen on the Arms of the current Gask chieftain, Laurence Kington Blair Oliphant of Ardblair and Gask. This motto is also French, and is literally translated into English as "Has all to be able", however, the proper translation is "All things are possible". |
| "What Was May Be" |
| Little is known about the origin of this motto, and all that is known is that it was used by the Bachilton branch of the family, as matriculated in the arms of Patrick Oliphant of Bachilton. |
| "Hope and Not Rue" |
| Again, little is known about this motto, other than it was used by the Prinlis branch of the Clan, and was matriculated prior to 1790 by Andrew Oliphant of Prinlis. |
| Gask Branch Motto |
| Clan Motto |
| Bachilton Branch Motto |
| Prinlis Branch Motto |
| Kinneddar Branch Motto |
| "Honesta Peto" |
| "I seek honourable things" |
| The motto "Honesta Peto" is Latin, and is translated into English as "I seek honourable things". It was matriculated prior to 1790 by James Oliphant of Kinneddar. |
| Condie Branch Motto |
| "Altiora Peto" |
| "I strive higher" |
| The Condie branch motto of "Altiora Peto" is latin, for "I strive higher" or "I seek higher things". This motto was matriculated prior to 1790 by Laurence Oliphant of Condie, and can currently be seen in the arms of Richard Oliphant of Condie. This motto is the title of a book written by one of the most famous sons of the Condie Branch, Laurence Oliphant, the author, politician and mystic. Also, "Altiora Peto" is the motto of the Rossie branch of the Clan, who branched off one of the early Oliphants of Condie, which explains the common motto. |
| Langton Branch Motto |
| "Hinc Illuminabimur" |
| "Hence it shall be enlightened" |
| This motto, used by the Oliphants of Langton, is also Latin and is translated to mean "Hence it shall be enlightened". This motto was used by the Oliphants of Clasbainy as well, as matriculated in the arms of George Oliphant of Clasbainy prior to 1790 |
| Charles Oliphant, Writer to the Signet, Edinburgh, Motto |
| "Quod Aegis, Fortiter" |
| "Which you do bravely" |
| This motto is Latin as well, and is translated as "Which you do bravely". It was found in the arms of Charles Oliphant, Writer (to the Signet), Edinburgh, and was matriculated prior to 1790. |
| Laurence Oliphant, Writer to the Signet, Edinburgh, Motto |
| "Non mutat fortuna genus" |
| "Fortune does not change the race" |
| This motto is Latin and was found in the arms of Laurence Oliphant, Writer (to the Signet,) in Edinburgh, and was matriculated prior to 1790. |