I am a sucker for tattoos that symbolize a historic element or an ancient culture. That's exactly what got me hooked onto the Scottish tattoo designs. It would definitely be surprising for you, as it was to me, to know that these tattoos hail from the wonderful ancient history of Scottish and Celtic cultures. Scots chose the hard way out as they suffered massively and struggled hard for victory over the continuous infliction, banishment and killing. Undoubtedly, the Scottish men have a reputation of being brave warriors, loyal lovers and true gentlemen. Ever since ancient times, the people of Scotland have always had a keen interest in body art and body painting. Scottish people felt proud of having tattoos on their body and the Scottish tattoos are symbols of their rich historic culture and strong character. You might have heard of the Scottish heroes - The Picts. These warriors had their body painted from head to toe. This was exactly the time when Scottish people started getting into body art and tattooing, and today Scottish people have come up with the following Scottish tattoo design ideas. Scottish Tattoo Designs and What They Mean The cross used in the flag of Scotland is the oldest known cross in the world. No wonder this cross is one of the most prominently made Scottish tattoo design. Other vernacular Scottish tattoo designs include the Scottish highlanders, the saltire and the Scottish family tattoos that feature the place in Scotland where a person hails from. Clan tattoos are also one of the most popular tattoo designs. Let us take a look at each of these Scottish tattoos and the meaning behind each one of them. The Scottish Highlanders Tattoo Scottish highlanders were the warriors of Scotland who lived in Scottish Highlands. Getting a tattoo or a picture of a Scottish highlander is one of the most authentic Scottish tattoo design idea. The Scottish Saltire Tattoo Scottish Saltire is the cross that Scots use in their national flag. It is also known as Saint Andrew's Cross and it is white in color with a blue background. Legend had it that Saint Andrew was crucified on an X-shaped cross at Patras. He was a Christian apostle and a patron saint of Scotland. This is why the Scots have the Saltire cross in their national flag. Getting a tattoo of the Saltire, represents the nationality and sheer patriotism of the people. Scottish Clan Tattoos or Scottish Family Name Tattoos Scottish clan tattoos represent the Scottish family you belong to. In the foregone days of struggle against the Romans and the Englishmen, the Scots used to get the name of a specific clan tattooed, so that their name and family details can be identified. Clans are Scottish units consisting of many families having a common ancestor in the Scottish highlands. Before going to war, a Scottish warrior would wear a badge of his clan with a feeling of pride. Clan tattoos consist of plaid designs that indicate a particular glen of Scotland. Getting a Scottish clan tattoo represents your connection with the deep roots of Scotland. Scottish Thistle Tattoos Thistle, a robust plant grown on Scottish soil and crowned with a purple flower, is a symbol of toughness that breeds in a Scottish heart. This plant can grow in the most infertile lands and it covers itself with thorns for protection. The early kings of Scotland used this plant as a symbol of their royal family crest. Scottish thistle tattoos are usually small tattoo designs and they symbolize bravery, toughness and ruggedness. Scottish Military Tattoos Scottish military used tattoos for the soldiers to identify them. These military tattoos portray the war stories of the powerful heroes who fought for their country. Over the recent years, Scottish military tattoo designs are used as emblems of strength and power. Scottish Lion Rampant Tattoos The national flag of Scotland has the Saint Andrew's cross but before that the flag of Scotland used to have a Scottish lion rampant. This tattoo design is one of the most favorite designs in the world. A Scottish lion rampant is red in color and stands against a yellow background. It represents one's old ties with Scottish soils! Scottish Firefighters Tattoos Scotland is also known for its eminent firefighters. Scottish firefighters tattoos imply the origin of the techniques of fire-fighting and fire fighting heroes. They also include the fallen fighter memorial tattoo. These tattoos are marked with the name, birth date, death date, ladder number or the fire fighter's hat in honor of a dead firefighter who died fighting for his people. The other tattoo in this category is the lifetime of service tattoo. This tattoo is inked on those fighters who have reached a highly respectable position in their career. Celtic Artwork Tattoos and Gaelic Tattoos Scottish culture has deep ties with the Celtic culture in the field of art and music. Thus, the Celtic artwork tattoos and the Gaelic tattoos are some other favorites of the Scottish people. The designs include nautical tattoos which consists of astronomical drawings like the stars, the moons and the constellations. I never had an idea about the historic importance of a tattoo design, until I found about Scottish tattoo designs. I was completely spellbound after knowing the history behind it. So the next time you think of getting inked, get inked the Scottish way!