The Swallow Tattoo Meaning and 110 Tattoos That Will Take Flight

The swallow tattoo meaning varies from good luck and prosperity to true love and freedom.

I have always been interested in the symbolism of swallows - they have deep significance in many different cultures. As I was asked to design more tattoos, though, I decided to do more research into the meaning of these birds.

Let's find out what I discovered.

What are the Swallow Tattoo Meanings?

Well, swallow tattoos get their meaning from the swallows themselves. So, let's take a look at the significance of swallow birds first.

Swallow birds have been significant in numerous cultures for years.

One of the reasons why they're important is that the swallow birds usher in the spring and summer. It also represents the end of the gloom of winter.

Due to this, swallow birds - and the swallow tattoo - are associated with new beginnings. They also symbolize the end of something bad and the start of something good.

As a result of their association with springtime, swallows are usually considered to be a good luck charm. This is especially true as farmers used to consider them omens for good weather.

If the swallows flew high, this meant that fair weather was on its way.

The swallows also have cultural significance to the Greeks and Romans. This is because many gods, Aphrodite in particular, was able to transform into a swallow. Once again, it has a positive association.

There is also some belief that swallows carried the souls of dead children. They were a comfort to mothers to know that the souls of their children were carried to somewhere safe and happy.

Speaking of souls, it was quite common to find sailors of old with swallows tattooed on their body.

While swallows were associated with safe passage and safe return, particularly on the seas, they were also believed to carry the souls of sailors to their final resting place.

Therefore, not only did the swallows act as a lucky charm, sailors believed the tattoos would carry their souls to a better place once they had passed.

As a result, swallows and swallow tattoos are also a symbol of hope. Some people may also see it as a guarantee that you will end up where you need to be, regardless of the barriers in your life.

It is also believed that more experienced sailors got a swallow tattooed on them to prove that they had travelled a certain number of nautical miles. So, it is likely that one swallow tattoo meaning is experience or even trustworthiness.

Some people like to think of the swallow as their spirit animal. However, you should know that this is something of an outdated term and can be offensive to Native Americans as the term heavily borrows from their culture.

A Note About Swallows and Sparrows

Before I show you the collection of swallow tattoos and the swallow tattoo meanings, I want to warn you about the sparrow tattoo.

On the surface, a swallow and a sparrow can look quite similar. However, they are not the same. This is despite the fact that both a swallow tattoo and sparrow tattoo can be used by sailors and as good luck charms.

Therefore, make sure to do your research and take the right bird tattoos design to your tattoo artist.

Swallow Tattoo Designs and Their Meanings

Want to get a particular swallow tattoo meaning? Here are the swallow bird tattoos that you can use as inspiration:

Simple Swallow Tattoos

As swallow tattoo designs are fairly popular, you have more than your fair share of options to choose from. However, you may want a simple swallow tattoo.

This is actually a great idea. In general, swallows aren't flashy birds. So, if you want a minimal swallow bird tattoo, you are keeping in line with the true nature of the bird. A minimalistic tattoo design also works well if you want a small swallow tattoo.

Remember that just because you request a basic swallow tattoo from your tattoo artist, this doesn't detract from its true meaning in any way. Instead, it may just be a reflection of your personality or your personal sense of style.

Just because you want a small bird tattoo doesn't mean that your design automatically has to be boring. As you will see below, there are plenty of ways to have fun with your swallow tattoo. You will find similar feature with these tattoos, though - such as a forked tail.

Here are some of the tattoo ideas that you should consider:

If you are looking for a different kind of swallow tattoo, this is a tattoo design you should consider. It is an abstract drawing, and while it has the tell-tale features of the bird, it is an entirely unique tattoo.

Realistic Swallow Tattoos

On the other end of the spectrum, you can have tattoos of highly realistic barn swallows if you want. Not only will your swallow tattoo hold a lot of meaning, it will also be incredibly beautiful.

This kind of swallow tattoo works well for those who enjoy high-quality tattoo designs or enjoy the beauty and biology of the birds.

Remember to look for a photograph of the swallow with a great deal of detail. Also, remember that sparrows can resemble swallows but they aren't the same bird.

On a side note, it is best to look for talented tattoo artists for this kind of swallow tattoo as it requires some expertise.

If you want an interesting style of tattoo, you may want to consider a swallow tattoo reminiscent of a drawing. It can still have a lot of detail and look quite life-like. The only difference is that the tattoo could look like it was drawn with charcoal or a similar medium.

Flying Swallow Tattoos

I know what you're thinking - most swallow tattoos show swallows flying. So, why make the distinction?

What you need to know is that the bird tattoo has always represented freedom, and the swallow tattoo is no exception. So, if you are a free-spirit or someone who wants to take flight and start a new chapter, a swallow in flight is the perfect tattoo to get.

Wrist swallow tattoos are often used to remind people about freedom or fresh start. It can also be a good reminder for you to spread your wings.

I quite like this tattoo. As you can see, it shows a bird flapping its wings. As such, you can see the swallow making more effort to fly. This can be quite meaningful to some people - after all, flight and goals in your life are only achieved through hard work.

Two Swallows Tattoos

One interesting thing you may not know about the barn swallow is that it mates for life. Therefore, a swallow tattoo meaning for body art with two birds could symbolize love or true love.

It could be an example of the love between you and your partner, especially if you're soul mates. So, if this is the swallow tattoo meaning you hope to invoke, you should get a piece of ink with two swallows.

Family Swallow Tattoos

Just as the swallow tattoo can represent two lovers, it can also mean love. Not only do swallows mate for life, but they also are social creatures.

The barn swallow will return to the same nest it nested in the previous year. What's more, male swallows tend to be quite territorial.

Therefore, one swallow tattoo meaning could represent family or loyalty to your hometown or the people you love.

This kind of swallow tattoo can be represented by three or more swallows,

Traditional Swallow Tattoos

Traditional swallow tattoos are quite popular. This is one of the first American tattooing styles. It is a classic and works especially well for the swallow tattoo.

Now, you may also find mentions of a sailor Jerry swallow tattoo. This refers to a form of tattooing that was popularized by a man known as sailor Jerry.

This art form does borrow heavily from the traditional style. Due to this, you likely won't see much of a difference between these two swallow tattoos.

That being said, here is a sailor Jerry swallow tattoo, so that you know what to look for:

Colorful Swallow Tattoos

Many a swallow tattoo is inked as a black and white swallow tattoo. There is nothing wrong with this - it is a rather classic look after all.

However, if you are looking for more modern swallow tattoos, a colorful swallow tattoo may be the way to go.

So, what does this mean? Well, there is no set definition for this kind of swallow tattoo.

It could use unusual colors for a bird that is typically depicted with black wings and a white belly. Or, it could be a watercolor swallow tattoo.

Here, you can be as creative and as fun as you want with your tattoo. Here are the colored swallow tattoos you can choose from.

Sailor Swallow Tattoos

As mentioned, the swallow has long been associated with sailors. It was meant to protect them during the long journey on rough seas.

The swallow is also a symbol of souls lost at sea being carried to the afterlife. In this sense, the swallow tattoo design was meant to signify home for sailors one way or another.

If you have any kind of sailing experience or love being on open water, a swallow tattoo may be just what you need.

With this swallow tattoo, the swallow design can vary. You can have a single swallow in your tattoo or twin swallows if you prefer.

There you have it - the meaning of the swallow tattoo. Now that you know all the different meanings out there, you can decide which design is right for your preferred symbolism. Go ahead and choose your perfect piece of ink today.