Texas Tattoos Meaning, Design & Ideas

The state of Texas comes with its own brand of national pride and style that is easy to identify. The state’s individual history as an independent republic helped to create this pride in the nation as well as the state. The nickname “The Lone Star State” has been adopted because of this history and gives Texans a sense of personal identity.

There is nothing quite like Texas pride. The folks that inhabit this state are tough as they come, and the people love to tell everyone about the state they grew up in. One way to show their pride is to get a Texas tattoo. That tattoo could be many things but the idea behind the branding is to let everyone know where you are from.

In this post we will talk about Texas and the different tattoos people get to represent their state. There are a lot of versions of the Texas tattoo that can be had and much of the decision will be based on personal preference. We hope that by the end of this post, you will have a better understanding of the state of Texas and the people who live there. We also hope that the descriptions of the different kinds of Texas tattoos will help you make your decision on which tattoo you would like to have.

Texas Facts

Texas spans 268,601 miles and is the second-largest state in the U.S. (only behind Alaska). If Texas were a country, it would be the 40th largest in the world. It is bigger than any country in Europe. This is crazy considering how much space Texas takes up in the United States. It just goes to show you how big this country is. The saying, “Everything is bigger in Texas” is understandable now that we know how big this state is.

In addition to its sheer size, Texas has the second biggest population in the United States and just behind California. As of today, the population of Texas is 27.86 million. It has already increased by over 2 million since 2010 and looks like it is trending up

If you were wondering, the word “Texas” was derived from the pronunciation of “Tejas” coming from the Hasinai Indian word that means “friends” or “allies”. The ironic thing about this is that most of the native tribes in Texas were completely eradicated.

Texas Tattoo Variations

As far as Texas tattoos go, there are a plethora of variations that can be linked to represent the Lone Star State. From flowers to animals, this state has many images that represent this great state. Below we will review some of the symbols and discuss their meaning.

Texas Flag Tattoo

The state itself is the most popular image used to showcase an identification with Texas. Often, it is filled in with the state’s flag, a microcosm of the United States of America flag with a bold red and white stripe accompanied by a single white star on a blue field. The flag signifies the state’s independence as a republic but its eventual amalgamation with the USA. The flag can be pictured on its own as well or within another shape, often with a Western theme such as a cowboy hat.

The idea of the single white stripe and red strip goes back to the Republic of Fredonia which was a small state that seceded from Mexico before being forced to rejoin. Before they were forced to rejoin Mexico, the state was formed via an alliance between the Native American tribes and the local Anglo settlers. The white stripe and red stripe represented both groups of ethnic groups.

Now we know the flag to represent something different. The code of the flag states that blue symbolizes loyalty, red is for bravery and white is for purity. The Texas Flag Code also symbolizes “All of Texas and stands for our unity as one for God, State, and Country.”

Longhorn Tattoo

The bullhorns and bull skull are other common insignia used to portray the state of Texas and its cowboy and cow-wrangling culture. The Longhorns is the name of the various athletics teams of the University of Texas, a recall to the cattle that were instrumental in the development of the state. The silhouette of the longhorn cow or the skull is an image iconic of Texas.

Originating from Spain, the Texas longhorn bull became the founder of the American cattle industry. Because this longhorn was the start of the cattle industry, it symbolizes fruitfulness and abundance on top of the usual suspects. The bull usually has similar meanings all over the world. It represents qualities like strength, protection and harmony.

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Armadillo Tattoo

The armadillo is another symbol of Texas as they are indigenous to the area as well as prevalent in the Southern States, but especially Texas. The armadillo, along with the longhorn cow, are official small and large mammals of Texas.

The nine-band armadillo represents many traits that the people of Texas try to encompass on a daily basis. Some of these include neutrality, peace, trust, sensitivity and protection. It is said because armadillos like to burrow and dig with their claws, they are getting to the “root” of the problem. Seeing an armadillo can be an omen to investigate any issues you have been having. By doing so, you might discover the issue.

It is also said armadillos help in finding lost items. They are experts in the field of exploration and search as they look for food. Their senses are extremely heightened while underground which means the armadillo tattoo might invoke the power to find lost items and ideas.

Bluebonnet Tattoo

Beautiful desert flowers are also known to represent Texas, especially the state’s official flower the bluebonnet. The tall, narrow and beautiful indigo-colored flower has dozens of buds, giving it a full look when in bloom. It makes a gorgeous image and is often placed in front of or inside the outline of the state shape. A yellow rose has also become a prevalent symbol of Texas. The origins date back nearly two centuries to when a folksong surrounded a yellow rose and a soldier.

The Bluebonnet is referred to as ‘el Conejo’ by the people of Mexico. There was a tale from the Comanches that said the Bluebonnet was gifted to the Comanche. It was a gift to a people that knew the meaning of survival and self-sacrifice. A girl who was also known as She-Who-Is-Alone was said to have a spirit as beautiful as a bluebonnet and a heart as big as the state of Texas.

She-Who-Is-Alone lived with the Comanche people. At the time, the Comanche were experiencing a drought that hadn’t lifted in a very long time. No matter how many ceremonies or dances were performed, the rains would not come.

The shaman of the tribe said that a sacrifice of their most valued possession would bring the rains back as the tribe had become too selfish. Nobody was sure exactly what needed to be burned but She-Who-Is-Alone knew she needed to burn her favorite possession which was her doll. This doll was a gift from her deceased parents and it was all she had left. She did so in the middle of the night and then scattered the ashes to the four corners of the Earth. When morning came, bluebonnets covered the hillside. These were a sign the Great Spirits had forgiven the Comanche and when the Comanche gave thanks, the rains came.

This story is a fascinating tale of the bluebonnet. It is relevant because Texas has a strong history with the Native Americans. However, Texas is the only place in the world where Bluebonnets are native. Bluebonnets are to Texas what the shamrock is to Ireland, so the Bluebonnet tattoo is a representation of all that Texas is.

There are many other symbols that could be turned into a Texas tattoo, however, we will let you research which one strikes a chord. If you have any questions about this tattoo or what artist to see, let us know and we will give you a recommendation. Happy hunting!

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