Connecticut State Motto: Qui Transtulit Sustinet
Fact-checked • Updated December 1, 2025
OFFICIAL STATE SEAL
"Qui Transtulit Sustinet"
He Who Transplanted Still Sustains
About This Motto
Connecticut's state motto is Qui Transtulit Sustinet, Latin for He Who Transplanted Still Sustains. The phrase first appeared on the Saybrook Colony seal in 1639. Connecticut adopted it officially when creating the state seal in 1784.
What the Motto Means
Translation? He Who Transplanted Still Sustains. God transplanted the colonists from England to Connecticut. Divine care continued after their arrival. That's the core meaning.
Why this phrase? Early settlers left Massachusetts Bay Colony seeking better land. Connecticut River Valley offered fertile soil. Survival required more than farming skill alone.
Psalm 80:8 talks about a vine transplanted from Egypt. Charles Hoadly spotted the connection in 1889. Connecticut's founders saw themselves in that verse - moved from England to wilderness, same as ancient Israel. The parallel made sense to Puritan colonists.
Historical Background
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1636 Settlement
Thomas Hooker led colonists from Massachusetts Bay Colony to Connecticut River Valley in 1636. Hartford, Windsor, Wethersfield formed. Population needed religious freedom plus better farmland. Massachusetts restrictions pushed them west.
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1639 Saybrook Colony Seal
Saybrook Colony used Qui Transtulit Sustinet on its official seal in 1639. Colonel George Fenwick governed Saybrook at the time. Who chose the Latin phrase? Records don't specify.
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Seal Design Elements
Original seal showed 15 grapevines arranged in rows. Each vine represented one of Connecticut's original towns. Grapevine imagery connected directly to Psalm 80's transplanted vine metaphor.
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1784 State Seal Adoption
Connecticut adopted its official state seal in 1784 after American Revolution. Legislature kept the colonial design. Three grapevines replaced the original 15. Banner below carried Qui Transtulit Sustinet. Oak tree and deer disappeared from earlier versions.
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Legal Recognition
Connecticut General Statutes describe the state seal including the motto. No separate motto law exists. Seal description provides legal status for Qui Transtulit Sustinet.
Meaning & Significance Today
Modern Connecticut residents interpret it differently than 1639 colonists did. Some see immigrant heritage acknowledgment. Others focus on perseverance through challenges. Agricultural metaphor works for any transplanting experience.
State seal appears everywhere. Government documents, driver's licenses, official buildings. Qui Transtulit Sustinet shows up daily across Connecticut. Most people ignore it routinely.
Three grapevines remain on the current seal. They replaced the 15-vine design sometime after statehood. Why three? Historians suggest the original three river towns: Hartford, Windsor, Wethersfield.
Cultural Context in Connecticut
1630s Puritan Migration
Massachusetts Bay Colony imposed strict religious requirements. Thomas Hooker wanted congregational church government. Connecticut offered that freedom. Between 1636 and 1640, roughly 800 colonists moved from Massachusetts to Connecticut Valley.
Connecticut River Valley
Valley soil attracted farmers. Flooding deposited rich sediment annually. Growing season lasted longer than Massachusetts coastal areas. Trade access via river helped economy develop.
Fundamental Orders of 1639
Connecticut adopted written constitution before statehood. Fundamental Orders established representative government January 14, 1639. Saybrook Colony seal with Qui Transtulit Sustinet appeared the same year.
State Seal Evolution
Current design shows three grapevines on shield. Banner below carries the Latin motto. Shield sits within ornate border. Connecticut coat of arms follows same basic pattern with minor variations.
Current Law
Connecticut General Statutes Section 3-104 describes the state seal. Qui Transtulit Sustinet appears as part of the official seal description. No standalone motto statute exists.
Interesting Facts About the Motto
Fact 1 of 8
Connecticut's motto appeared on colonial seals 145 years before statehood in 1788.
Sources & References
This article has been researched using authoritative sources to ensure accuracy and reliability. All information has been fact-checked and verified against official government records.
Official information about Connecticut's state motto from the state government. • Accessed: December 31, 2025
Historical context for Connecticut's state seal and motto development. • Accessed: December 31, 2025
Legal description of Connecticut's official state seal including the motto. • Accessed: December 31, 2025
Background information on Connecticut's motto meaning and significance. • Accessed: December 31, 2025
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