List of vampiric creatures in folklore
This list covers the many types of vampire-like legendary creatures of global folklore or people that were supposedly vampires. Since ancient times, people have had tales of supernatural creatures that feed on humans' vital essence (generally in the form of blood). This list does not include any vampire that originates in a work of fiction.
A
[edit]- Abchanchu – Bolivia[1]
- Abere – Melanesia[2]
- Abhartach – Ireland[3][4]
- Adze – Ghana[5]
- Alp – Germany[6] – Variations throughout the world.[7]
- Amalanhig – Philippines
- Aniukha – Mongolia, China[8]
- Ardat-lili – Mesopotamia
- Arnold Paole – Serbia
- Asanbosam – Ashanti people[9] – Also called Asasabonsam, this iron-toothed creature dangled its hooklike feet from trees to snare travelers.[10]
- Asema – Surinam[11]
- Asiman – Ashanti people[12]
- Aswang – Philippines[13]
- Aufhocker – Germany[14]
- Azeman – Suriname[14]
B
[edit]- Badmaarag – Mongolia
- also called Baadai
- Baital – India; Variations: Baitala, Baitel, Baitol, Bay Valley, Katakhanoso, Vetal, Vetala[15]
- Bajang – Malaysia
- Bakalou baka – Haitian Vodou; Also called pinga maza, a shapeshifting evil spirit with red eyes.[16]
- Bakeneko – Japanese
- Bantu – India, Three main kinds of this vampire including:
- Bantu Dodong
- Bantu Parl
- Bantu Saburo
- Baobhan Sith – Highlands of Scotland
- Beatha Greimach – Highlands of Scotland; literally "the breath thief".
- Berbalang – Philippines
- Berwick Vampire – England: A 12th-century rich man who was said to roam the town by night after his death.[17] The townspeople, fearing that he would bring disease, cut up and burned the body, ending his nightly appearances but not preventing the plague.[17]
- Bezkost – Balkans
- Bhayangkara – Tibet
- Bhūta – India
- Bibi – the Balkans
- The Blow Vampire – 1706 Kadam, Bohemia
- Blutsauger – Germany; Variant: Blutsäuger
- Boo Hag – America
- Boraro – Colombian folklore
- Brahmaparush – India
- Breslan Vampire – Breslau, Poland (17th Century)
- Buckinghamshire Vampire – 1196 Buckinghamshire, England
- Burach Bhadi – Scotland[18]
C
[edit]- Cadaver Sanguins – England
- Cãoera - Brazil and Guyana
- Callicantzaro – Greece
- Camazotz – Maya Mythology
- Canchus – Peru also spelled:
- Pumapmicuc
- Capelobo – Brazilian mythology
- Catacano – Crete
- also spelled Kathakano
- Chedipe – India
- Children of Judas – Bulgaria and Serbia
- Chonchon – Latin America
- Chordewa – Bengal
- Chupacabra – Originated in Puerto Rico; subsequent reports (some erroneous) in Brazil, Chile, Mexico, The United States of America
- Churel – India
- also spelled Churail
- Cihuacoatl – Aztec
- Cihuateteo – Aztec Mythology, Mexico
- Croglin Grange, The Vampire of – Cumberland, England
D
[edit]- Dachnavar – Armenia – also spelled Dakhanavar, a vampire who sucked the blood from victims' feet, preying on newcomers to his valleys.[19]
- Dala-Kumara Yaka – Sri Lanka
- Danag – Philippines
- Danava
- Dhampire – Slovakia, with the following variations in spelling:
- Dila – Philippines
- Doppelsauger – Germany also spelled:
- Dubblesuger or Dubbelsügger
- Draugr – Norse Variations: Aptgangr (“one who walks after death”), Aptrgangr, Barrow Dweller, Gronnskjegg, Haubui, Haugbui (“Sleeper in the Mound”) Has two main versions land and sea.[20]
- Drekavac
E
[edit]- Encourado – Brazil
- Edimmu – Mesopotamia – also spelled Etemmu – The returned spirit of a person who did not receive a proper burial.[21]
- Ekek – Philippines
- Empusa – Ancient Greece – also called Mormolykiai, Empusas
- Eretik – Russia[22]
- Estrie – Jewish Tradition
F
[edit]- Fifollet – United States (Louisiana) also spelled:
- Finnegan Thain – Scotland
G
[edit]- Gashadokuro – Japan
- Glaistig – Scotland
- Jure Grando – Croatia, first real person described as a vampire in historical records
- Ghoul – Arabic lore – "The Arabic stories of the ghole spread east and were adopted by the people of the Orient, where it evolved as a type of vampiric spirit called a ghoul."[23] Variants: Alqul (Arabia),[24] Aluga (Bible; Proverbs 30:15),[25] Balbal (Tagbanua, Philippines),[15] Ghoulas (Algeria);[23] Katacan (Sri Lanka).[26]
H
[edit]- Hannya – Japan
- Haubui – Norwegian
- Haidam Vampire – Romania (Hungary, before 1918)
- The Highgate Vampire – Highgate Cemetery England
- Hisi-Hsua-Kuei – China
- Hi'ilei – Hawaii
- hooh-strah-dooh – Wyandot – North America
- Hone-onna- Japan
- Hortdan - Turkic with different types
- Hortlak (Turkish)
- Xortdan (Azerbaijan)
- Hortan (Tuva)
- Hupia – Taíno with the spelling variations:
- opia
- opi'a
- op'a
- operi'to
I
[edit]- Impundulu – South Africa
- plural iimpundulu
- also called ishologu
- Incubus/Succubus – Medieval Europe
- Inovercy – Russia
- Iso-onna – Japan
J
[edit]- Jaud
- A similar mythical creature is a Drekavac
- Jenglot – Indonesia
- Jiangshi – China, also under the names of:
- Kiang shi
- Kuang shi
- Chang Kuei
- Cương Thi
- Jacques St. Germain - Louisiana
- Jigarkhwar – India
- also spelled Jigarkhor
- Joint-eater – Irish
- also called Alp-luachra
- Jubokko – Japan
- Jure Grando – Croatia
K
[edit]- K'uei – China
- Kalu-Kumara Yaka – Sri Lanka
- Kappa 河童 – Japan with the following spelling variations:
- Gataro 川太郎
- Kawako 川子
- Kasha – Japan
- Kathakano – Crete
- Keres - Greece
- Kichkandi – Nepal
- Kephn – Burma
- Kranokolaptes - Greece
- Krasue - Thailand and it Southeast Asian variations. Variants: Ahp (Cambodia), Kasu (Laos), Kuyang (Indonesia), Ma lai (Vietnam)
- Kravopiec – Bulgarian
- Kudlak – Czechoslovakia
- Kumiho – Korea
- Kuntilanak - Indonesia
- Kukudhi – Albania
- Kyuuketsuki 吸血鬼 – Japan
- Karalanos – Egypt
- Katalina Bergeta - Norway
L
[edit]- Laistrygones – Ancient Greece, also under the names of:
- La Llorona – Central America and the United States
- Lamashtu – Mesopotamia
- Lamia – Libya
- Lampire – Bosnia[citation needed]
- Langsuir – Malaysia, also under the names of:
- Leanashe – Ireland (dubious)[27]
- Lemures – Ancient Rome
- Leyak – Indonesia
- Liebava – Moravia
- Lidérc – Hungary
- Lilith (לִּילִית) – Jewish Tradition
- Lilu/Lilitu – Mesopotamia
- Loango – Ashanti and Asanbosam people, Africa[28]
- Loogaroo – Caribbean Islands \ Mauritius
- Lugat – Albania, also under the name of:
- Liogat
- Kukuthi
M
[edit]- Ma cà rồng -