Texas State Motto

"Friendship"

Adopted in 1930.

Language: English

The state motto of Texas is "Friendship." The word, Texas, or Tejas, was the Spanish pronunciation of a Caddo Indian word meaning "friends" or "allies." House Concurrent Resolution No. 22, 41st Legislature, 4th Called Session (1930) p. 105.

Texas is from the Caddo Indian word "teyshas" (meaning "friends" or "allies"). In the 1540s Spanish explorers took this to be a tribal name, recording it as Teyas or Tejas. It came eventually to mean an area north of the Rio Grande and east of New Mexico. The alliance concept is also incorporated into the state motto, which is simply "Friendship."" See Origin of Texas State Name.

Texas State Motto
"Friendship"

Before "Friendship" became the official state motto of Texas, Remember the Alamo"served as the state's official motto from 1836 to 1845. This former state motto of Texas is displayed on the state seal. Texas revolutionaries cried out "Remember the Alamo"in the battle at San Jacinto, which was an important battle in Texan history.

The Texas motto, Friendship, was adopted by House Concurrent Resolution No. 22, 41st Legislature, 4th Called Session (1930)

Texas Law

The law designating the official Texas state motto is found in the Texas Statutes, Government Code, Chapter 3101, Section 3101-004.

GOVERNMENT CODE.
CHAPTER 3101. STATE SYMBOLS.
SECTION 3101.004.

§ 3101.004. STATE MOTTO. The state motto is "Friendship."

Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, § 7.001, eff. Sept. 1, 2001