Celtic Tattoo Designs: Their History and Meaning

Celtic history extends back thousands of years, and we have learned from archaeology that symbols and artwork were a very big part of the Celtic tradition. In fact, Celtic tattoo designs now make up some of the most popular tattoo choices for people from all walks of life.

A Symbol Of Heritage: For a start, Celtic tats are a popular symbol for North Americans who have a Celtic heritage - with ancestors from Ireland, Scotland or Wales - and want to proudly display that part of their history. The symbols themselves do come with individual meaning, but may be chosen simply because of this heritage.

As A Spiritual Marker: When not worn simply as a mark of history, Celtic tats are carefully chosen based on what the individual symbol represents. They are extremely spiritual, representing views on life and the world, and designed to tell a story. Here's a quick guide to some of the most popular Celtic tat designs.

The Celtic Knot: This tattoo design is perhaps the most famous, representing the endless cycle of death and rebirth. They are never-ending and have huge spiritual symbolism.

The Celtic Cross: This is another very popular Celtic tattoo design, and should not be confused with the traditional Christian cross - although the two are closely linked. Instead, it stands for men and women, heaven and hell. This is a complicated design, representing the complexities of the natural world.

Celtic Spirals: There are a wide range of different types of Celtic spiral incorporated into unique tattoo designs. They each hold unique meanings, from the progress of man to the links between nature, spirit and the cosmos.

In general, Celtic tattoo designs can be as simple or as complex as you want them to be, drawn in black only or in colors of your choice. There are a number of tattoo artists now specializing in this unique type of tattoo.

Celtic Tattoo Ideas For Women

Women Tattoos - 10 Popular Tattoo Ideas

9. Celtic tattoos
  Much like the tribal, Celtic tattoos have become very popular amongst women due to the interweaving or interlocking patterns that make up this sophisticated design. With a wide range of styles and patterns ideas these tattoo design has an endless possibility of placement can be placed just about anywhere your heart may desire. Women are fascinated by the stunning uniqueness of the Celtic tattoo and will incorporate it into their design.

Side Tattoo Celtic Lettering

Celtic Tattoos

Celtic Tattoo For Women

Series part from: Innovative Ideas for Women Tattoos see more tattoo ideas.

Celtic Tribal Tattoos

When combining tribal artwork with the intricate designs of a "Celtic tattoo" the results can be astonishing. While possessing the beautiful and symmetry qualities from both tattoo styles, a Celtic tribal tattoo can be a powerful symbol that represents personal convictions that have deep and rich meanings.

Celtic tattoos comprise of interweaving patterns, knot-works and mazes that can be made from a simple design to more complex. The interlacing artwork can be applied to create a variety of symbolic representations such as the Celtic dragon or Celtic cross which is the most popular designs among Celtic tattoos.

Overall intermixing tribal with a Celtic design will not only be more appealing visually but will also have its own uniqueness. There are no boundaries when it comes to developing ideas for your own tattoo design using both art forms of the Tribal and Celtic.

Pictures of Celtic & Tribal Tattoo Designs