The 18th and 19th centuries were fairly constant in theme and meaning for sailors' tattoos.

• Names of loved ones and personal initials to prove identity
• Various nautical symbols; stars, swallows, turtles and other sea symbols.
• Sailors were always a small and marginalized part of society. Seemingly cutoff from the rest of the population. Years at a time at see, exotic locations and the lawlessness of the sea made the men retreat into their own subculture. One rich in folklore. Life at sea is steeped in tradition, ritual, and myth. 
• But, the lack of many records prior to World War I leads to a lack of academic study and large gaps in history. Still, the oral tradition has kept many stories alive and relatively unchanged for many years. 
• Some tattoos had real life practicality. Initials paired with government documents served as identification and guarded against impressment. Names of loved ones with hearts or flowers kept the thought of home close and made life more bearable.