Sparrow Tattoo Meaning

A tattoo is a permanent marking on your body which can be magnificent but also means that it is super important that you know the meanings behind them.  Your body is a canvas that you are free to decorate however you wish.

Sparrow tattoos are a relatively popular option as they have many different associations and meanings, this means that lots of people find a Sparrow tattoo to be a suitable choice for them. In fact the Sparrow is a rather archaic tattoo as it was part of the sailor tattooing trend in the 1700’s.

It is interesting that this popularity has never really dipped and the sparrow tattoo has remained popular throughout the past and the present. 

So, What Does The Sparrow Tattoo Mean?

The sparrow tattoo actually has various meanings, connotations and symbolic reasons behind it. These include, but are not limited to: 

Travelling

Sparrows are animals that fly long distances and emigrate over certain seasons. For these reasons, the sparrow has become a symbol for travel. This symbolism is used within the tattoo industry with many people having the sparrow tattoo done for this exact reason.

People that choose to use the tattoo with this meaning behind it may have a passion for travel, travel for work or be in the army or similar.

Hope After Hardship

Sparrows are also representative of hope after hardship. This is because in reality they appear in the warmth after the cold months have passed.

Therefore, people that have overcome hardship will often choose this tattoo as a symbol of the fact that they managed to survive and come out the other side of a very difficult situation. 

Happiness at Hard Times

For similar reasons to those above, the sparrow is associated with happiness at hard times. Therefore people going through a tough time in their life often choose to have this tattoo done in order to remind themselves to stay positive.

Common reasons for getting a tattoo with this meaning could include having a serious illness, having a relative with a serious illness, facing financial difficulties or just going through a generally rough patch in life. 

Peace After Loss

Another common meaning behind the sparrow tattoo is that of peace after loss. Many people use the sparrow to signify the calm after the storm and the peace and tranquil that can often follow long health battles.

This may be used when someone has lost a loved one, they may choose this particular tattoo to remind themselves that their loved one is now at peace and also that they have reached a place of peace following the tragedy that has happened. 

Good Luck

One positive connotation of the sparrow tattoo is that of good luck. This is most commonly used when facing life threatening challenges such as going to war or facing a serious illness. People may get it as a personal lucky charm or to wish luck upon someone that they care about.

In reality, it is also often used to represent good luck in situations which are not life threatening such as wanting luck within a marriage or in a financial sense. 

Family

One of the most common reasons for having a sparrow tattoo today is that it connoted family. It represents the love that one has for their family and the fact that they would be willing to do anything to protect them.

Often people may have a group of sparrows tattooed on them each one representing a relative. Similarly, many famils actually get matching sparrow tattoos as a symbol of their undying love for each other. 

Best Places To Have Your Sparrow Tattoo Done

Sparrow tattoos can be done in pretty much any place that you desire. However, there are some factors to consider such as: 

Size

How big you want your sparrow tattoo to be should be taken into consideration when trying to decide where to have it. Generally speaking, this particular tattoo is a relatively small one so can be done on places as small as hands or feet.

However, if you are looking for this to be a larger piece you may want to think more about having it done on your back, legs and arms. 

Pain

Like when choosing where to have any tattoo you should consider your own personal pain threshold. Some more painful places include your spine, fingers, and ribs so if you have a low pain tolerance then these might be some places worth trying to avoid.

Undercover

When deciding to have any tattoo it is important to consider if you want to be able to cover it up. This could be for reasons such as work, family disapproval or for certain social situations. Generally speaking, people have little desire to cover up sparrow tattoos. 

Social Acceptance

Similarly to the above, when deciding on the placement of your tattoo you should try to weigh up how socially acceptable it is as this could have an impact on where you have it.

For instance, if it is a less socially acceptable tattoo you may choose to have it made less obvious by having it done between other tattoos. Similarly, you may choose to have it somewhere small that can be covered up.

Overall, the sparrow tattoo has very few negative connotations so it is likely to be accepted in the vast majority of societies. Therefore, you have a lot of freedom when it comes to this tattoo as you do not need to worry about much backlash. 

Final Thoughts

Sparrow tattoos are very historic and have now been in use for over 300 years. They are one of the most common tattoos that people have done across the globe.

The reason for this long lasting popularity is partially the fact that there are so many different meanings behind the tattoo such as coming to peace after loss, family, good luck and happiness at hard times.

The fact that the connotations are so positive also continues to make them popular as does the simplicity and freedom for creativity within the original sparrow tattoo design.