Tribal tattoos have a rich history that spans across cultures and continents. These bold designs are rooted in traditions and hold significant meaning for the communities that they represent. While tribal tattoos have evolved, their essence remains a powerful symbol of heritage and identity.
Today, we’ll take a deep dive into tribal tattoos and their symbolism.
Tribal tattoos often feature bold, black ink designs. You’ll notice that every such tattoo has strong lines, geometric patterns, and symbols. That’s because they draw inspiration from indigenous cultures, such as Māori, Polynesian, Native American, and African tribes, and more. Each tribe has its own unique style, motifs, and meanings associated with their tattoos.
In tribal cultures, tattoos are not merely decorative but have a deep cultural and spiritual meaning. In the past, they even marked important milestones in a person’s life, such as coming of age, motherhood, tribal affiliation, or nature tattoos that represent oneness with Mother Earth. These tattoos were believed to ward off evil spirits and represent a person’s identity and connection to their community.
These trippy tattoo designs are quite popular for their aesthetic appeal. We’ve collected over 150 tribal tattoo ideas for your next ink-spiration.
However, it’s important to note that while tribal tattoos look beautiful, you should approach them with respect and cultural understanding. Find a knowledgeable tattoo artist who can provide insight and ensure that the tattoos are designed and applied with cultural sensitivity.
#1 Aztec Tribal Tattoo On The Back
Image source: msdarkart
#2 Filipino Tribal Tattoo
“Filipino tribal done by Ert Dirosa at no kings tattoo in slidell, LA.”
Image source: hairythotter420
#3 Tribal Tattoo On The Chest
Image source: fakeskintattoo
#4 Hand Tribal Tattoo
Image source: meriagnello_tattoo
#5 Tribal Tattoo On The Leg
“Tukutuku (Maori weaving) inspired calf tattoo (Manawa Tapu, Sunset Tattoo, Auckland NZ).”
Image source: reddit.com
#6 Tribal Maori Tattoo
“Got my first tattoo done by Maori tattoo artist Shaun from Otautahi Tattoos in NZ.”
Image source: MrMagier
#7 Tribal Ear Tattoo
Image source: fiorile.ttt
#8 Tribal Tattoo On The Hand
Image source: fiorile.ttt
#9 Tribal Tattoos On Feet
“One of my fav healed pieces and a very special highlight to remember from this trip to Nepal. Sadly my time here in nepal is coming to an end yet this tattoo will always remind me to follow your heart. Nepal forever.”
Image source: fakeskintattoo
#10 Tribal Black Tattoo
Image source: mauricio_betancourt
#11 Tribal Leg Sleeves Tattoo
Image source: akb_future
#12 Spine Tribal Tattoo
Image source: grafsantz
#13 Tribal Tattoo On The Hand
Image source: jalayahay.ink
#14 Tribal Tattoo Sleeve
Image source: jalayahay.ink
#15 Tribal Mask Tattoo
Image source: dantzat2
#16 Tribal Tattoo On The Back
Image source: sun.yata
#17 Dot Work Tribal Tattoo
Image source: sun.yata
#18 Tribal Collarbone Tattoo
Image source: meriagnello_tattoo
#19 Cyber Tribal Torso Tattoo
“Cyber tribal torso by Keni at Droptheink Toronto.”
Image source: maomien
#20 Tribal Feather Tattoo
Image source: carlos_and.tattoo
#21 Hand Tribal Line Tattoos
Image source: emmanuel_item
#22 Tribal Leg Tattoo
Image source: _tchelao
#23 Tribal Tattoo On The Back
Image source: benlopeztattoo
#24 Hand Tribal Tattoo
Image source: caio.spada
#25 Hand Tribal Tattoo
Image source: sadhakaya
#26 Marquesan Inspired Half Body Sleeve Tribal Tattoo
Image source: manu_tattoos
#27 Tribal Tattoo On Forearm
Image source: fakeskintattoo
#28 Tribal Chest Tattoo
Image source: jackthebloody_tattoo
#29 Freehand Tribal Hand Tattoo
Image source: grafsantz
#30 Ribs Tribal Tattoo
Image source: claudio.benve
#31 Tribal Leg Sleeve Tattoo
Image source: kiwi.burt
#32 Shark Tribal Tattoo
Image source: jaeink11045
#33 Tribal Fish Tattoo
Image source: badbullyink
#34 Tribal Octopus Tattoo
Image source: badbullyink
#35 Folk Flowers And Bold Blackwork Tattoo
Image source: sun.yata
#36 Tribal Armband Tattoo
“First tattoo came out better than I expected. Filipino and Polynesian tribal mix done by Steven house at Skanvas tattoo out in Cypress, CA.”
Image source: reddit.com
#37 Hand Tribal Tattoo
“Four face tribal by Zantoru at Subdidink in Vancouver, BC.”
Image source: bronwizard
#38 Polynesian Tribal Sleeve Tattoo
“Contemporary Polynesian Tribal Sleeve by Wayne Austin Fata at Sacred Tatau in Las Vegas, NV.”
Image source: Tcujo
#39 Neotribal Half Sleeve Tattoo
“Neotribal half sleeve. Done by Connelly Tait at Studio Arcanum in Seattle, WA.”
Image source: ctatmeow
#40 The Pain Of Being Born Tattoo
Image source: mut4nt.3
#41 Tribal Collarbone Tattoo
Image source: bosschakal
#42 Polynesian Arm And Chest Tattoo
Image source: zele.tetoviranje
#43 Hand Tribal Tattoo
Image source: rupintart_com
#44 Tribal Sleeve Tattoo
Image source: raffaella_olomhe_ricci
#45 Tribal Chest Tattoo
Image source: inkbyptp
#46 Tribal Tattoo On The Chest
Image source: fakeskintattoo
#47 Tribal Calf Tattoo
Image source: manu_tattoos
#48 Black Work Tribal Tattoo
Image source: sadhakaya
#49 Tribal Tattoo On The Leg
Image source: mauricio_betancourt
#50 Tribal Tattoo Shoulder Sleeve
“Wanted to share my very first tattoo!”
Image source: downeynumba20
#51 Tribal Tattoo On The Back
Image source: fiorile.ttt
#52 Tribal Tattoo On The Back
Image source: jalayahay.ink
#53 Shoulder Piece Of Tribal Tattoo
Image source: badbullyink
#54 Tribal Lower Leg Tattoo
Image source: kiti_ta_tatau
#55 Sleeve Tribal Tattoo
“Filipino Sun/Tribal by Filipino tattoo artist Nino Desuyo, Fait Maison – Bayonne.”
Image source: SamdersonPaak
#56 Abstract Tribal Tattoo
“Abstract tribal tattoo with LOTR Elements by Jason Corbett | Insider Tattoo | Edinburgh.”
Image source: Natvika
#57 Tribal Tattoo On The Foot
Image source: meriagnello_tattoo
#58 Hand Tribal Tattoo
Image source: taza_of_ink
#59 Tribal Shark Tattoo
“My first tattoo! By Lucas Denton at Oddy Knocks in Lansdale, Pennsylvania.”
Image source: Evening-Stage5320
#60 Tribal Flower Tattoo
Image source: marsinktattoo
#61 Tribal Tattoo On The Back
Image source: unitytattoogranada
#62 Tribal Tattoo Leg Sleeve
Image source: zele.tetoviranje
#63 Small One Tattoo
Image source: zele.tetoviranje
#64 Small Tribal Tattoo
Image source: lantat_studio
#65 Tribal Tattoo On The Back
Image source: alexan_tattoo
#66 Tribal Shoulder Tattoo Sleeve
Image source: ink_devotion_tattoo
#67 Tribal Bull Tattoo
Image source: badbullyink
#68 Tribal Tortoise Tattoo
Image source: the_lambo_scoundrel
#69 Tribal Polynesian Tattoo
Image source: claudio.benve
#70 Maori Tribal Tattoo
“A Cultural Maori, Ta Moko – By Tony Brown At Otautahi Tattoo, Christchurch, New Zealand.”
Image source: Zenfranklin2
#71 Filipino Tribal Tattoo
“Freehand contemporary Filipino tribal done by Jerome Noveras at Royalty Tattoo Collective. Burlingame, CA.”
Image source: aBaldWookie
#72 Tribal Sleeve Tattoo On The Hand
“Renewed old Initials into bluework tribal style half sleeve by Reny Tattoos at Studio Paradiso, Toronto.”
Image source: Putrid_Signature5588
#73 Symmetrical Tribals Under The Knee
Image source: fiorile.ttt
#74 Tribal Sleeve Tattoo
“Tribal side finished, done by Ben, Deluxe Tattoo in Chicago.”
Image source: SSJVIC
#75 Filipino Tribal Tattoo
“My first piece, a northern filipino tribal by Zel at Spiritual journey tattoo, in Stanton, CA.”
Image source: FromChicagoWithLove
#76 Tradition Filipino Tribal Tattoo
“Visayan/tradition Filipino tribal done by Nate Arbaquez of Spiritual journey tattoo in Southern California.”
Image source: yanroxphoto
#77 Full Sleeve Tribal Tattoo
Image source: akb_future
#78 Dark Tribal Tattoo
Image source: grafsantz
#79 Tribal Tattoo Sleeve
Image source: jeffquintano
#80 Tribal Fish Tattoo
Image source: badbullyink
#81 Tree On Fire Tattoo
Image source: sun.yata
#82 Tribal Filipino Tattoo
Image source: taza_of_ink
#83 Tribal Rose Tattoo
Image source: artofficial.tattoos
#84 Neotribal Hearts Knee Tattoo
Image source: tattoo_kaos46
#85 Tribal Tortoise Tattoo
Image source: ashinkd
#86 Turtle Tribal Tattoo
“A sea turtle design tattoo I had put of for grabs on my story has now come to life!!”
Image source: taza_of_ink
#87 Fern Leaf Tattoo Wrap On The Knee
Image source: claireelise_art
#88 Rose Tribal Tattoo
Image source: tejashua
#89 Tribal Tiger Tattoo
Image source: joshcoburntattoo
#90 Tribal Tattoo On The Back
Image source: bosschakal
#91 Tribal Tattoo Sleeve
Image source: lagrangetattootreviso
#92 Hand Tribal Tattoo
Image source: lagrangetattootreviso
#93 African Piece Tattoo
Image source: uriel816tattoos
#94 Japanese Rival Tattoo
Image source: asei311072
#95 Tribal Bull Tattoo
Image source: rupintart_com
#96 New Tribal Tattoo
Image source: _tchelao
#97 Maori Tribal Tattoo
“Maori sun god, made by Sara Teodorescu at Jack Ink Tattoo, Bucharest Romania.”
Image source: Str3m1sBlack
#98 Polynesian Tribal Tattoo On The Hand
“Mixture of Filipino, Polynesian tribal, with mandala patterns. Artwork done by Steven House from Skanvas Tattoo in Cypress, CA.”
Image source: PLO_24
#99 Tribal Tattoo On The Leg
Image source: d_a_s_l_y_
#100 Tribal Leg Tattoo
Image source: sadhakaya
#101 Tribal Tattoo On The Leg
Image source: jeanmichelmanutea
#102 Arm Tribal Tattoo
Image source: pixi.ink
#103 Tribal Flower Tattoo
Image source: claireelise_art
#104 Small Tribal Tattoo
Image source: tattoosbyvicperez
#105 Small Tribal Tattoo
Image source: hanabi_tattoo_studio
#106 Tribal Fish Tattoo
Image source: mustach3mayh3m
#107 Irish Tribal Tattoo
Image source: kazeetatted
#108 Aztec Tribal Tattoo
“Tattoo done at MothArtTattoo. Aztec inspired piece with Bull centerpiece to commemorate my grandmother/Mexican heritage.”
Image source: MrFingerable
#109 Tribal Heart Tattoo
Image source: sarasancheztattoo
#110 Tribal Tattoo On The Hand
Image source: lagrangetattootreviso
Follow Us
