Nearly one third of all men look at tribal tattoos first; before ever stepping foot into a tattoo shop. And while they may appear masculine and cool, there’s actually quite a lot of meaning behind them. (Aside from just courage and boldness) The design dates all the way back to the bronze ago; that’s over five-thousand years ago. So as you can expect, the meaning and purpose is all over the place but always make for part of the 50+ best tattoo ideas.

Yet the four most notable reasons men in ancient times embraced tribal tattoos were for: Rites of passage, marriage tattoos, totem animal guardianship, and perhaps the most bizarre of them all, magical and medical reasons. Plus each style differs with the: Aztec, Samoan, Polynesian, Indian, Hawaiian, Egyptian, Maori, and Myan.

The Moari tribe from New Zealand bears facial tribal tattoos to showcase their inner strength. They believe that when you pass away, the tattoo shines a light through you to reveal who you truly are as a person. The Haida, an Indian tribe, has tribal tattoos that resemble that of their woodcarvings. To them, this design is about being forceful by taking over the strength and power of an animal.

The Borneo tribe from Indonesia looks at tribal tattoos as a way of showing protection and achievement. And when it comes to Polynesian, you might be surprised to know that the word “tattoo” actually stems from the Polynesian word “tatau”.

Other designs of the tribal tattoo can even represent membership, act as camouflage in the woods (ancient times), or be a part of the indigenous culture symbolizing: Pain, loss of life, and permanence. Today, I’d like to share with you the top 57 best tribal tattoos for men, featuring designs and ideas from all over the world.

See more about – The Top 135 Best Tattoo Ideas for Men