Sailor tattoo meanings

Unlike other services, the U.S. Navy has a long tradition of tattoos. Learn about 19 popular nautical tattoo designs including what they mean and how a sailor earned the right to wear each symbol.

It’s time to learn the real story of one of the men responsible for American tattooing (and rum!), Norman "Sailor Jerry" Collins.

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Traditional nautical tattoos: a swallow, a mermaid, an anchor or a sailing ship – what exactly is the meaning behind them and what do they say about their bearer?

Swallow tattoos have been popular for ages and today, they carry different meanings. Now, the real question is which design to opt for?

Tall ship sailor-turned-cartoonist Lucy Bellwood's gorgeous "The Art of the Sailor" is an informative guide to the meaning of sailor tattoos. It first appeared in Vancouver Maritime Museum's traveling exhibit,…

Jerry Sailor is known as the “Godfather of American tattoos” and is also a pioneer of the old-school tattoo style. As Jerry Sailor was also part of the navy, his tattoos were made for sailors and each of them has a different meaning. This way, just by looking at a sailor that served in World War II, we can learn more about them as people and as sailors.In this oneHOWTO article we're going to explain the meaning of Sailor Jerry tattoos. We'll go through different Sailor Jerry tattoos, their…

A navy anchor is an indicator of character and integrity tied to patriotism, the memorials of loved ones, or unit within the Armed service.

Old school Navy tattoo