Tattoo

Tattoo History

Tattoo History is intended to provide you with a sampling of the rich, diverse history of tattooing and culture of tattoos around the world. I hope that these tattoo articles and links represent some of the best information available about Tattoo History today.

At one time tattoos were only accepted among sailors, bikers or freaks. Today it seems like almost everyone has a tattoo. Hell, your mom's probably got one in a place you don't want to know about. So where did this trendy art originate, and how did it reach our culture? Bob Munden, tattoo artist at the Fiery Dragon Tattoo and Body Piercing Studio, said tattoos have existed in far-off cultures for a long time. "Tattoos have been around since the beginning of time. They've found mummies that are four and five thousand years old. Munden said that tattoos at this time served as a symbol of social status. "Each one told a story about who you were or what your position in society would be," he said. Many people associate tattoos with bikers and rock stars. However, tattoos haven't always been associated with extremists. Famous explorers even donned tattoos, Munden said. "Explorers got it from the Polynesians. The Polynesians used tattoos as a historical device," he said. "Tattoos told their family history, like the Indians used to write it out on buffalo hides. Each Polynesian had a different tattoo that told a different story." Explorers weren't the only ones who got tattooed in the days of yore. People of royalty and high status even had them. King George V, King Oscar of Sweden and even Sir Winston Churchill's mother had tattoos. Munden said people of high status acquired tattoos as a way of exemplifying power. "Only the rich and the people who were really important were the ones who had that type of stuff. The lower classes didn't have positions in government, so they didn't have tattoos," he said. In olden times, all tattoos were given by hand, Munden said. When electrical tattooing became accessible, Munden said the process became easier. "This sped up the process, and it made things a lot easier for us," he said. Munden said a common misconception held by the public throughout time about tattoos is that they make you look tough. "A tattoo doesn't make you tough or mean," he said. "If you weren't bad or tough before you got the tattoo, you are not going to be after you get one," he said.

TATTOO FACTS & STATISTICS

-Thirty-six percent of those ages 18 to 25, and 40 percent of those ages 26 to 40, have at least one tattoo, according to a fall 2006 survey by the Pew Research Center.
-The National Geographic News stated in April 2000 that 15% of Americans were tattooed (or approximately 40 million people!)
-Esquire Magazine estimated in March 2002 that 1 in 8 Americans was tattooed.
-According to the American Society of Dermatological Surgery, they stated in 2005, that of all the people they treat with laser and light therapy, only only 6% are getting a tattoo removed.
-Harris Poll, 2003, estimates that fully 36% of those aged 25-29 have one or more tattoos.
-A 2006 a study done by the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that 24% of Americans between 18 and 50 are tattooed; that's almost one in four. And the survey showed that about 36% of Americans age 18 to 29 have at least one tattoo!

*Search Engine Lycos, ranks the Top 50 search terms every week. "Tattoos" was the third most popular search term in 2002, the fourth most popular search term in 2001, seventh most popular search term for the year 2000, and the eleventh most popular search term in 1999. "Tattoo and tattoos" is one of only seven search terms to never fall out of the Top 50 Search terms in the 199 weeks since Lycos has been keeping track. The other six are Dragon Ball, Pamela Anderson, Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, Las Vegas and the WWE/WWF.

*In July of 2002 "tattoos" reached its highest ranking ever, coming in as the number two most requested search term on the internet. "Tattoos" was requested more often than Britney Spears, marijuana or Kazaa, illustrating that skin ink is more popular than "sex, drugs and rock n' roll!"

-- Lycos dropped the term "tattoos" from it's Poll because the term was so popular. According to Lycos, tattoos rarely drops out of the top ten search terms requested on the Internet and

--Lycos dropped the term because they wanted to make room for other searches.
Search engine Ask.com found these stats about tattoo searches:
LA fashion week reminds us once again that trends come and go. But,while the Devil may wear Prada, Search Engine Ask.com reveals that tattooshave been stealing the scene as the #1 searched beauty term since 2003. Nolonger taboo, the popularity of tattoos prove that skin is always in.

-- Virtually every language is searched for in tattoo designs: from Aztecsayings to Russian phrases, but Japanese and Chinese characters/symbolsare among the most frequently searched.-- Location, location, location: Backs rank the highest in searches(lower, upper and all over). But, not far behind: necks, arms, wristsand ankles. Unmentionables also rank high.

-- Angelina's number, choice and types of tattoos rank the highest in thecelebrity category. Ask.com searchers are also intrigued by othercelebs. Most notably, Nicole Richie, Alyssa Milano and heavy metalrockers Metallica.-- As for who searches for tattoos more: given the top five rankeddesigns, which are tribal, cross, stars, butterflies and fairies, we'dsay women.

TRIBAL TATTOOS

Tribal Tattoos Worldwide looks at the traditional tribal tattoo practices of indigenous and aboriginal peoples around the world and is a celebration of cultural diversity and tattoo culture. Tattoos have passed through the mists of time... tattoos are seen in all corners of the world... tattoos that have deep cultural or religious meaning. Check out this collection of tattoo design pictures for a look at some amazing, early examples of 'real' tribal tattoo work -- images from around the globe and tribal designs drawn down through history.

Download Tattoo Images!