Celtic Tattoos

Tattoo Designs From the Celtic World

Modern Celtic peoples have evolved symbols for themselves, and North Americans of Celtic descent often wear these symbols to show their Celtic origin. The ancient Celts passed knowledge down through an oral tradition of storytelling and didn't keep many written records, consequently, there is little evidence of their tattooing remaining even though Celtic cross tattoos and Celtic know tattoos are very popular designs.

Intricate Celtic tattoo design © Robert - Ontario, Canada

Most of Celtic tattoo designs are taken from the Irish Illuminated Manuscripts The Book of Kells, which is on display in the library of Trinity College in Dublin, my home town. This is a much later time period than the height of Celtic tattooing. Designs from ancient stone and metal work are more likely to be from the same time period as Celtic tattooing.

Celtic knot tattoos are usually loops with no end or beginning symbolizing the never ending cycle of death and rebirth. Celtic animal (zoomorphic tattoo designs) designs are similar in construction but the cords terminate in feet, heads, tails. Pure knots are usually unending, unless the end of a strand is stylized into a zoomorphic element or a spiral.

Ancient Celtic symbol called a triskelle found at Newgrange © Oisín - San Antonio, USA

The intricacy of Celtic knotwork defies literal translation and its meaning is to be found at a deeper level. The repeated crossing of the physical and the spiritual are expressed in the interlace of the knots. The never ending path of the strands may represent the permanence and the continuum of life, love and faith and for these reason Celtic tattoos have become so popular.

For people who have a Celtic heritage, whether Irish, Scots or Welsh , getting a Celtic design can be a way of expressing pride in their heritage by reaffirming an affinity the indigenous artistic style of their ancestors. They are usually not easy designs to do, and it is strongly recommended to anyone contemplating getting one to make sure that the artist they are considering has experience in designing Celtic tattoos. Not all tattoo artist such an eye for detail and exacting line placement required for the intricate patterns particular to Celtic tattoos.

Typical Celtic knotwork tattoo © Jessie Johnson - Austin, USA

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Celtic Tattoo 
Just one Celtic so far but I need more! The top is a Scottish thistle, the bottom is a Celtic knot, and Gaelic words around it. 'Nemo me impune le cessit'...

Cute Angel Tattoo 
Took one hour. it was done in Florida at ink addiction by bart. I did it in memory of my son. I added the clover because I am Irish.

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Celtic Knot Tattoo Design 
This is my Celtic knotwork design. I got the idea from another piece I saw. Jon from 'Black Dragon Tattoo' in Waukesha, WI was the tattoo artist. It took ...

Ambigram Tattoo 
Ambigram design, reads Regret forwards and Nothing upside down. Artist was Nails out of Fall From Grace Tattoo in Birmingham Alabama, took him about 45 ...

Large Treble Clef Tattoo 
treble clef on ribs, three hours, artist name is Mason.

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Celtic Knot Tattoo on Shoulder 
This is a stone like triquetra on my right shoulder blade. It was done by Addison Carver of InkJunky Tattoos in Marysville, WA and took all of about and ...

Original Celtic Tattoo Design 
Took 4 hours and tailored by Evan Bekeschus in Cambridge ON, this tattoo really symbolizes Celtic Canadian pride.

Original Design is a Pat fish original ...

Irish Tattoo 
Leprechaun done by Steve at Trinity Tattoo in Longwood, Florida.

Celtic / Tribal Tattoo 
My first Tattoo was a present to myself.... My artist was wonderful and worked with me to take an old design and revamp it.

Celtic Motherhood Knot Tattoo 
My tattoo is a Celtic motherhood knot with my son's initials on the outside of it. It took about an hour to get it done. Brian was the artist at Mother'...

Irish Mythical Creature Tattoo Design 
Gryphon done by Steve at Trinity Tattoo in Longwood, Florida

Celtic Knot Tattoo 
Its a Celtic knot for strength, artist Chris from Lucky Devil Tattoo Studio. It took around 30 minutes.

Celtic Ferret Tattoo Design  Not rated yet
This is a Celtic ferret I want to get as a tattoo. I am a 50 year old woman who has never had a tattoo before and the tattooist has told me that I need ...

Celtic Cross Tattoo  Not rated yet
Saw this on the internet, changed it from English to Latin. Also had my tattooist throw his own flair onto it.

Download lots of wicked tattoo ...

Tribal Celtic Tattoo  Not rated yet
The blue is a trinity with extra knots within, on the outside is a triskelion with swirly points and shading around to the inside and out. Took about three ...

Native American Tattoo  Not rated yet
The shield represents my protection over my family. The middle feather is my wife and the other six are the kids.

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Celtic Trinity Knot Tattoo  Not rated yet
Trinity Knot
My tattoo was done by Matt Knight
At MOMZ TAT2
902 west 6th st.
Joplin , MO. 64801
Phone number : 417-782-6669

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Celtic Cross Tattoo  Not rated yet
Custom drawn Celtic cross. 3D like looking old stone. Took two and a half hours. It was done by Gully at 'Modern Electric' in Buffalo, NY.

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Family Shield Trinity Knot Tattoo  Not rated yet
This tattoo took 6 hours with my grandpa in Longford, Ireland.. He used Henna and India ink pressing it in with 11 weave needles... Its a tradition in ...

Tattoo of the Grim Reaper  Not rated yet
This tattoo covers the inside of my leg...it took around three and a half hours...

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Skull and Money Tattoo  Not rated yet
On my shoulder i have a skull on a stack of money and a roll of money in the eye and above it says get rich or die tryin'...it took about 2 and a half ...

Buddha Head Tattoo  Not rated yet
This was a tattoo I`d wanted for some time but never committed...well, my wife said "just go for it" and I had to do it...enjoy!

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Irish Celtic Cross Tattoo  Not rated yet
Celtic cross Bo Rapid City SD.

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Bird Tattoo  Not rated yet
Its on my shoulder blade. Its about 5 inches. Its a dove with a heart. It symbolizes the guy i was in love with and still am. But we aren't together anymore....

Celtic Cross Tattoo  Not rated yet
My Cross was done due to my Celtic background and also my faith. It took about 90 minutes and was done as bonding thing with my eldest son. He got a tribal ...

Cross Tattoo  Not rated yet
cross not finished yet but got about 9 1/2 hrs in so far.

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Leg Tattoo  Not rated yet
its a sword and flames i designed it myself it took 2 hours.

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Traditional Celtic Cross Tattoo  Not rated yet
Green in color. On right shoulder. The artist was The Ink Doctor in Yulle, Fl.

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Celtic Cross Tattoo With Names  Not rated yet
Artist: Randi at Roy's Art Studio in Mason, Ohio. It took her 5 hours to complete. Banner has wife and kids names.

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Celtic Cross Tattoo  Not rated yet
Artist: Randi at Roy's Art Studio in Mason, Ohio. It took her 5 hours to complete.

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Celtic Cross Tattoo  Not rated yet
This is my Celtic cross with a banner wrapped around it. Over all it took roughly 3 hours to fully complete it although i haven't had the names put in ...

Scottish Tattoo  Not rated yet
my tattoo is of the Scottish thistle. It took about 45 minutes. It is 1about 5 inches long. Jazzie Jeff of 'Fat Cats Tattoos' in Champion, Ohio did it....

Celtic Triangle Tattoo  Not rated yet
My tattoo is of an orange Celtic Triangle, I went orange cause I love the color. It took about an hour at out local Tattoo shop here in Somerset, KY 'Liquid ...

Irish Shamrock Tattoo  Not rated yet
My mom and I got matching tattoos because she owns a business called 'The Shamrock Tavern'. So this is the tattoo we had done in Florida while we were ...

Knot Work Tattoo  Not rated yet
Knot work part of my spiritual journey through life

Part of my left arm sleeve tattoo.

Tattooist - Noel at 'Powerhouse Tattoos', Palmerston North....

Celtic Knot Tattoo Design With Wings  Not rated yet
I just told the guy to make something up with a triangle that went across my shoulders. It only took a couple hours to get it completed too.

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Celtic Knotwork Triquetra  Not rated yet
It's a typical Celtic Knotwork Triquetra, except for the shadows, and shading. The artist was Santi, at Mainstreet Tatto in Yuma AZ. This was my first ...

Black Work Warriors  Not rated yet
I drew the main scene when I was 16. I carried it with me after joining the Army at 17. I always knew I would be a soldier. Anyway the idea of the piece ...

Celtic Love Friendship Symbol Tattoo  Not rated yet
My friend and I decided to get matching tattoos in our favorite colors and so we got the celtic heart, mine in pink and hers in green. Her tattoo is on ...

Modified Celtic Cross Tattoo Design  Not rated yet
The tattoo took only about an hour and half, two hours tops. The artist took my basic cross design and added detail which I feel made the tattoo that much ...

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