Laws of Minnesota 1861, Chapter 43. Official State Motto of Minnesota Minnesota formally adopted the French phrase "L'Etoile du Nord" (which means "The Star of the North") as the official state motto in 1861. The state motto of Minnesota, "L'etoile du nord," means "the star of the north" from the French. Minnesota Sayings “No one on this Earth knows how old I am.” “If you were to come to Minnesota, I could have you locked up like that. L’etoile du Nord (translation: “Star of the North”) was adopted formally as the official state motto in 1861. L’etoile du Nord became the state motto in 1861. Asked in Minnesota Who was minnesotas first govener ? Henry Sibley selected this motto to be used on the state seal and the Legislature approved both the seal and the motto at the same time. The Minnesota motto was chosen by Henry Sibley, the state's first governor, and the Minnesota motto was adopted by Legislature in 1861 along with the state seal. The Minnesota state motto is a French motto which in English means "The Star of the North".