The Girl With The Family History Tattoo

I recently wrote a blog for Family Tree Magazine all about the visual imagery of family history, and the many creative ways in which we can present and share our research. Family history does not have to live only in documents, charts, and files; it can be expressed through art, objects, places, and deeply personal symbols.

With that idea still very much in mind, I was contacted by a wonderful lady who had been inspired by her own family history journey and decided to share her story in an entirely unique and permanent way, through a tattoo.

What an inspirational and striking way to visualise your family tree forever.

But where does the inspiration for such an idea come from? How does a single thought evolve into a meaningful image, and how do generations of stories become something that can be carried on the skin?

Over a series of conversations, I was fortunate enough to uncover the real story behind “The Girl With The Family History Tattoo.” So let’s dig beneath the surface and discover the meaning behind this remarkable piece of living family history.

Where It All Began

Where does the desire, the thirst for knowledge, come from? Like so many of us, Charlie’s journey began with family. Inspired by her father, she initially set out to learn more about her DNA. After taking a DNA test with Ancestry and then encouraging as many close family members as possible to do the same, she was well and truly bitten by the genealogy bug.

Armed with handwritten notes from her grandparents’ personal narratives of their lives, experiences, and memories, Charlie began her search in earnest. Those fragile pages became the foundation stones of a much bigger story.

As her research unfolded, Charlie uncovered some remarkable and deeply emotional discoveries, particularly on her Jewish side of the family. Members of her family had lived through the horrors of the Holocaust a harrowing truth for anyone to confront, but especially so when it is woven into your own bloodline.

That emotional weight was compounded when Charlie shared her discoveries with her sister-in-law, who in turn uncovered that she had an ancestor who had been a member of the Luftwaffe. Imagine the emotions that brings to the surface: grief, shock, confusion, and reflection. Descendants of people who stood on opposite sides of one of history’s darkest chapters, now sitting together as family.

How do you cope with that? You cry together. You hug each other. You talk, reflect, and perhaps share a quiet moment over a glass or two of something comforting. Family history brings both light and darkness. We don’t get to choose which parts survive but all of it forms the fabric of who we are today.

The First Symbol: The Stag

From this emotional foundation emerged the first element of the tattoo.

A stag, drawn from the family surname Hirsch, which translates as “stag.” This represents Charlie’s German Jewish ancestry. Nestled within the stag’s antlers is the Star of David, a powerful and poignant symbol of identity, heritage, and remembrance.

You can clearly see how the experiences of previous generations created a deep emotional bond for Charlie, one that naturally evolved into the idea of marking her family history in such a permanent and personal way. Once the concept took shape, the next step was to piece together individual family stories into a single, coherent image rich with meaning.

Walking in the Footsteps of Ancestors

During her research into her father’s line, Charlie discovered a direct ancestral link back to the village of Tolpuddle, stretching all the way back to the 1500s. Generation after generation, the direct male line were all blacksmiths, living and working in this tiny but historically significant village.

So, like any good family historian, Charlie’s next step was clear, to walk in the footsteps of her ancestors.

Charlie visited Tolpuddle, stood inside the church, and touched the baptismal font where her own ancestors had been baptised centuries earlier. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: you can’t beat touching history. It is a humbling and deeply moving experience.

But the journey didn’t end there.

Charlie was able to visit the very farm where her ancestors had last worked and was incredibly invited in for tea by the current owners. During that visit, she made an astonishing discovery: the ancestors of the current farm owners had once employed Charlie’s ancestors.

To sit in the farmhouse where your ancestor worked, surrounded by the descendants of the very people who once shared that history, is a priceless family history moment.

The Second Symbol: The Horseshoe

From this experience came another powerful element of the tattoo:

A horseshoe, representing the long line of blacksmiths who lived and worked in Tolpuddle across centuries.

The Maternal Line: Life at Sea

Turning now to Charlie’s maternal side, we find generations of seafarers and mariners, based in Liverpool and North Wales. This maritime heritage is symbolised in the tattoo by the image of a ship.

And behind that ship lies another extraordinary family story one that deserves to be shared.

“My 2x great-grandfather was a young boy at boarding school in London. We don’t know exactly why he was there, but I suspect it was a school for children whose parents were away at sea. His father was the captain of a ship called the Acastus.

In 1869, his father took his wife aboard while transporting goods. The ship was wrecked, with all hands lost. What followed was my nine-year-old 2x great-grandfather being thrown out of school simply because there was no one left to pay his fees.

He remembered that his father had business associates in Liverpool, so this orphaned child walked completely alone from London to Liverpool in 1869. A family took him in, believed to be the Sharples family. Legend has it that he later married a Sharples girl. He went on to do very well in life, so thankfully, there is a happy ending.”

I’m certain there is still more to uncover in this story but we’ll save that for another day.

Place and Belonging

By now, you can see just how much thought and meaning have gone into every element of Charlie’s tattoo. The next symbol is instantly recognisable to anyone familiar with iconic landmarks.

The Liver Building represents Liverpool, a city deeply woven into Charlie’s maternal history. Her mother was born there, and generations of family life are rooted in the city. Liverpool remains a place where Charlie feels truly at home, filled with family legacy and connection.

The Final Element: The Mountains

The final image within the tattoo is the mountains of Vancouver Island, a place filled with memories of cousins, aunts, uncles, parents, siblings, friends, and shared experiences. It is an incredibly important and meaningful place for Charlie and her family.

For now, we will leave that stone unturned.

A Living Family Tree

What an incredible story, one filled with real family history, real people, real emotion, and real connection. All of it has been brought together into a stunning piece of art, originally drawn by an artist who is also a family member.

This tattoo is not just an image. It is a living family tree.

Thank you for reading Charlie’s story. You can follow her on Twitter @cmouse1980.

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