A teardrop tattoo is not a fashion statement. This kind of symbol should not be taken lightly. It has a heavy meaning for the wearer and those in society who understand what this tattoo means may also be highly affected by meeting the wearer or being associated to someone with this kind of tattoo. So what does this tattoo mean that its symbol would make such a heavy impact?

This kind of tattoo can be dated back even as early as 1940s and used by gang members. If a person is wearing a tattoo it can mostly mean either of three things. You can also check the design to have a better understanding of what the tattoo is trying to tell you. One of the meanings is that the wearer was convicted of murder or he lost someone very dear to him. Many have associated tattoos to people who were imprisoned and if you see someone from prison with a teardrop, you can make your best assumption that he killed someone. In lieu of this, the wearer who has several teardrops, one following the other, this can actually mean that he was convicted of multiple killings. For conviction of murder, you will find that the design of the teardrop tattoo is closed and colored. In one article, it said that in the 1920s, this tattoo was already existent and that the original meaning was that the wearer lost a loved one. This kind of tattoo is not colored inside. The most recent kind of teardrop tattoo is one that is half filled, this is the third meaning of the tattoo in that the wearer lost someone that he or she loved and took revenge on the person. To note, teardrop tattoos can also be a way to mark which gang you’re affiliated with.

For the meaning explained above, this is why it should not be a fashion statement among the younger generation who seem to take it lightly and actually have it tattooed on them. Some celebrities have teardrop tattoos for their own personal reasons. Singer Amy Winehouse got a teardrop tattoo when her husband was incarcerated. Another famous rapper, Lil Wayne was interviewed on Blender and when asked what was the meaning of his teardrop tattoos he did not answer but stated that he was asking the Lord to forgive him.

If you are not aware of its meaning, you might find that this kind of tattoo is cute to have underneath your eye. However, for those who have this kind of tattoo for shallow meanings or to go along with the fad must be aware that their lives may be in danger. Gang members take teardrop tattoos seriously and they pay close attention to the design of teardrop tattoos. In connection to what was earlier stated this tattoo has a heavy impact that it may limit career possibilities and you may be shunned by people around you who have an idea of what it means or the history of it.

Tattoos have evolved over the last few generations, from being associated with certain rituals, gang membership, into becoming more of a fashion statement. The teardrop tattoo has especially enjoyed the shift in the meaning associated with it, fast becoming a popular symbol across all ethnicities, whether gang members of not.

The teardrop tattoo is considered to have many possible origins. One theory is that it came about among Hispanic gangs in California way back in the 1940s. Others believe that it began in Puerto Rico and Mexico. No matter where it originally came from, the teardrop tattoo has also evolved in meaning and appearance.

The original meaning of the teardrop tattoo was that the wearer had killed someone or had served prison time. This time in prison may correspond to as low as one to as many as ten years. It may also represent the loss of a fellow gang member to a death caused by violence. In a sense, it is a symbol of sadness and grief, representing many things to the people who have them.

For example, Lil Wayne, a world-renowned rapper, has a teardrop tattoo beneath his left eye. When interviewed about the tattoo, he said that it did not symbolize a murder he had committed, but that it represented the death of his father and dead homies. Another rapper, who goes by the name of Bird Man, also has three teardrop tattoos under his right eye, although controversy remains involving their meaning. Fifty Cent, another rapper, is reportedly having his teardrop tattoos lasered off. Yet another rapper in the West Coast, The Game Gucci Mane, has a tattoo that he explains as symbolizing his gang affiliation. Of course, the tattoo is not limited to gang members. For example, punk band Fancid has one of its members, Lars Frederiksen, sporting one below his right eye to represent the death of his brother due to an aneurysm.

In recent times, there are two distinct designs of the teardrop tattoo. It can come in the form or an open or a closed teardrop. The open teardrop originally symbolized murder, committed by the wearer himself, while the closed one indicated the loss of a friend, relative, or loved one. A third type of the teardrop tattoo has also begun to be visible, comprised of half of a tear drop filled with ink. It reportedly serves as a symbol of a loved one having been killed, but the wearer had apparently gotten revenge on the assailant. Legend has it that inmates who are known to molest children in the Australian penal system are forced with the teardrop tattoo to serve as a warning to other people.

However, in this generation, the meaning of the different teardrop tattoos is no longer as clear, as it could mean one thing to the wearer but another thing to viewers. This is where the problem lies: when a young person gets a tattoo in the form of a teardrop, older gang members react differently than the younger generation, as, to them, the tattoo means someone hardened by murder or a criminal. Police may also have a bias against youngsters with the mark. As such, you need to take these things into serious consideration before you decide to get a tattoo, especially on the face, as these continue to be taboo in society today.

Meanings of a Teardrop Tattoo