Wales is a tough old nation.

Whether it's historically fighting off our enemies, or destroying our opposition in rugby , there's an ingrained strength that goes hand-in-hand with being Welsh.

Don't believe us? Just take a look at the slogans of the 13 historic counties of Wales.

According to research by financial firm On Stride Financial , four of the regions had mottos about strength or survival while a further two had freedom close to their hearts.

Mottos of old Welsh counties

A spokesman for the firm said: "Welsh motto-makers seem particularly keen on two values: freedom and prosperity."

"But there are a couple of counties keen on defining their place within the country.

"Anglesey’s motto is “Môn Mam Cymru” due to the capacity of its fertile land to provide for the nation.

"Powys rather boldly claims to be the paradise of Wales and with its rolling mountains, valleys, and farmlands, it’s hard to disagree."

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Here are the old mottos and their English translations:

  • Anglesey : "Môn Mam Cymru" - "Mother of Wales"

  • Brecknockshire : "Undeb Hedd Llwyddiant" - "Unity, peace, prosperity"

  • Caernarfonshire : "Cadernid Gwynedd" - "The strength of Gwynedd"

  • Carmarthenshire : "Rhyddid gwerin ffyniant gwlad" - "A free people a prosperous country"

  • Ceredigion: "Golud gwlad rhyddid" - "A nation's wealth is freedom"

  • Denbighshire : "Duw â digon"-"God is sufficient"

  • Flintshire : "Gorau tarian, cyfiawnder" - "The best shield is justice"

  • Glamorgan : "A ddioddefws a orfu" - "He who suffered, conquered"

  • Merioneth : "Tra Mor Tra Meirion" - "While the sea lasts, so shall Merionethshire"

  • Monmouthshire : "Utrique fidelis" - "Faithful to both"

  • Montgomeryshire : "Powys paradwys Cymru" - "Powys, paradise of Wales"

  • Pembrokeshire : "Ex unitate vires" - "Strength from unity"

  • Radnorshire : "Ewch yn Uwch" - "Higher and higher"

The mottos of the whole of the UK

The other UK mottos

Some of the other mottos from the UK include “No retreat” (Buckinghamshire), “By the right and dignity of the sword” (Cheshire), and Kent’s “Invicta” – Latin for ‘unconquered’.

In Scotland some counties mottos are simpler favouring “Vigilance” (Lanarkshire), hope (“In hope,” Morayshire), or “law and liberty” (Perthshire).

While Roxburghshire’s advice - "Ne Cede Malis Sed Contra Audentior Ito/Yield not to evil things but rather go on more boldly" is quite unique.

Northern Ireland's  mostly Latin mottoes favour teamwork (County Armagh’s “In Concilio Consilium”), hard work (Down’s “Absque labore nihil”), wisdom and prudence (Tyrone’s “Consilio et Prudentia”), or, failing that, God (Londonderry’s “Auxilium a Domino” – “Help comes from the Lord”).

History professor Madeleine Gray said most of the Welsh mottos were from the 20th century. However others, such as Glamorgan, had earlier origins.

According to Professor Gray, Monmouthshire got its coat of arms and motto as recently as 1948, while Carmarthenshire's were granted in 1935.

She added: "It seems what you have here is English translations of the actual Welsh mottos in the coats of arms of the old county councils.

"The exception is of course Monmouthshire whose motto is in Latin; Utrique Fidelis - Latin for Faithful to Both."

Created in the 16th Century, Wales' historic counties have never been officially abolished - although they were replaced by administrative counties some 300 years later.

The Royal Mail stopped using the counties for postal purposes in the 1970s.

Visit On Stride's website to read their full blog post.