“Regnat populus,” which is Latin for “The people rule,” has been Arkansas’ state motto since 1836. The motto refers to Arkansas’ role in both the War of Independence and the Civil War, idealizing the values of justice, freedom, and independence. The Latin motto is nearly identical to South Dakota’s state motto, “Under God, the people rule.”

The original quote that inspired Maryland’s state motto has been attributed to 16th-century Pope Clement VII. The phrase translates to “Manly deeds, womanly words.” After public outcry due to the sexism of the original translation, Maryland officials updated the translation of the state motto to be "Strong deeds, gentle words."

The state mottos of Rhode Island, Utah, and Wisconsin are relatively straightforward: "Hope," "Industry," and "Forward," respectively. The state motto of Missouri, on the other hand, is a bit more complex: "Salus populi suprema lex esto," which translates to "Let the welfare of the people be the supreme law."

Montana’s motto is a nod to the state's mineral reserves that were discovered in abundance in the mid-19th century, earning it the nickname “The Treasure State.” The committee deciding the motto thought that it had a better ring to it in Spanish. It was written on Montana’s first official state seal in 1865 and still appears on its state flag today

Ahead of Alaska’s centennial celebration, the state held a contest for a new motto with a $300 grand prize for the winning entry. Juneau journalist Richard Peter suggested "North to the future," which was selected as Alaska's official state motto in 1967. The phrase was meant to evoke optimism and promise, as well as Alaska’s position as the northernmost U.S. state.

Texas, or "Tejas," is the Spanish pronunciation of a word that comes from the Caddo Native American tribe, who lived in the area before the Spanish arrived. The word roughly translates to "allies" or "friends." The state motto of Texas, "Friendship," was adopted in 1930 because it was associated with the meaning of the state’s name.

The Latin word “Excelsior” translates to “Ever upward” and was adopted in 1778 as New York's motto to reflect the state's drive for excellence toward a brighter future. The motto appears on New York’s coat of arms, which is also featured on the state seal and state flag, along with the words “E pluribus unum,” which means “Out of many, one.”

The Wyoming Territorial Legislature made it legal for all women to vote, hold public office, and serve on juries in 1869. Thus, “Equal rights” is a fitting motto for the state, which was admitted to the Union in 1890 and is nicknamed the “Equality State.” The first female governor was elected in Wyoming in 1924.

In 1861, Minnesota Governor Henry Sibley proposed the state’s motto — "L'etoile du Nord," or "Star of the North” — reflecting the fact that Minnesota was, at the time, the northernmost state in the U.S. The French language was chosen to represent the early French-Canadian settlers who called Minnesota home.

“Eureka!” comes from a Greek word meaning, “I have found it!” And it was the discovery of gold in California that made “Eureka!” its state motto. The Gold Rush of 1848 put California on the map, leading to an influx of nearly 300,000 migrants to the West Coast in subsequent years.