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Old English lettering tattoos have been recently gaining popularity. This kind of lettering style is often used for temporary tattoos, as well as tattoo designs for rock and goth enthusiasts.
Old English was the language used by the early Anglo-Saxon settlers. Unfortunately, most of them were not literate – the earliest examples of Old English writing date from aproximattely 700 A.D. They were most probably done by monks who attempted to translate the spoken language they heard around them into written one using the Roman alphabet of their Latin language.
The more proper name for what is often called Old English is Blackletter. The most calligraphic and ornamental form of this type of lettering is called Textualis, which is frequently used for Old English lettering tattoos. There are also numerous examples of medieval scripts and books written in this highly decorative and complex calligraphic style.
Keep in mind that Old English lettering tattoos are difficult to create because of the sheer complexity of the letters. This is the reason why it is common for tattoo artists to create those kind of designs with a larger area of the body in mind, such as the chest or stomach, as those areas allow for larger letters which are easier to ink.
Because of their character, Old English lettering tattoos are often chosen by male individuals. It is also important to pick a word or phrase that fits well with this kind of writing style, as not every message looks equally good in this type of lettering.
