List of vampiric creatures in folklore



This list covers the many types of vampires, vampire-like legendary creatures of global folklore or people that were supposedly vampires. It does not include any vampire that originates in a work of fiction.

A

 * Abchanchu (Bolivia)
 * Abere (Melanesia)
 * Abhartach (Ireland)
 * Adéla (Bohemia)
 * Adze (Ghana)
 * Alp (Germany) – Variations throughout the world.
 * Amalanhig - Philippines
 * Asiel Torres (Puerto Rico)
 * Aniukha (Mongolia, China)
 * Arnold Paole (Serbia)
 * Asanbosam (Ashanti people)
 * Asema (Surinam)
 * Asiman (Ashanti people)
 * Aswang (Philippines
 * Aufhocker (Germany)
 * Azeman (Ashanti people)

B

 * Badmaarag (Mongolia) The Badmaarag is a vampiric awakening created when her grandma died 7 years before her birth (2005). The lady was a vampiric spirit before she died and was devoured by her grandchild. They say Badmaarag has two souls, while others say she doesn't have any. She struggled to transform into a vampire. She noticed physical difference when she started puberty. Deja-vu visions were noticeable. She gave up her humanity and said her vows in between two trees "From this day i shall be human no more. With this apple in my hand, i represent my soul. With this figure on the apple, i represent my humanity in me. With this dirt under me, i represent my vampires. Hear me clearly, when the time comes, on the last day i shall be a vampire! Once the apple is decomposed, the human in me shall be long gone! My soul shall never return as it will be replaced by a demon. I shall never be the same again as i will be a vampire. I now bury the apple, the tree shall not be lonely as i will visit." She promised to take care of the tree till the last day of her humanity and said the vows "Oh! My child, you are lonely here! Fear not as i shall keep thee company, will visit you till the last day of thy humanity. Oh! My child, you are sick! Fear not as i shall aid you, will bring you water till the last day of thy humanity. Oh! My child, you need sun! Fear not as i shall be your light, will light your way till the last day of thy humanity. You have my words, rest now as i will protect you." With these vows she decided to visit the tree till the last day of her humanity. The day came quickly as the apple was too small. Her biggest mistake was breaking her promise to take care of the tree. She is now known as the New Vampire Queen as some say she carries Lilith's soul energy. Beware! She looks younger than her age! Do not let her fool you! Do not go to her house! Do not stay alone with her in the same room! Do not disrespect her! Do not go on her bad side! On the 17th of February(her physical birthdate) and bloodmoon do not get too close to her! Please do note that she will kill you without hesitation if she gets the chance!
 * also called Baadai
 * Baital (India) – Variations: Baitala, Baitel, Baitol, Bay Valley, Katakhanoso, Vetal, Vetala
 * Bajang (Malaysia)
 * Baka (Haitian Vodou) – Variant: Benin
 * Bantu (India) – There are three main kinds of this vampire including:
 * Bantu Dodong
 * Bantu Parl
 * Bantu Saburo
 * Baobhan Sith (Highlands of Scotland)
 * Berbalang (Philippines)
 * The Berwick Vampire (England)
 * Bezkost (Slavic)
 * 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 (17th Century Breslau, Poland)
 * Bruja (Spain and Central America)
 * Bruxa (Portugal) – Males being called Bruxo
 * the Buckinghamshire Vampire (1196 Buckinghamshire, England)
 * Burach Bhadi (Scotland)

C

 * 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
 * Cihuateteo – Aztec Mythology
 * 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 – Mexico
 * Croglin Grange, The Vampire of – Cumberland, England

D

 * Dachnavar – Armenia with the following spelling variations:
 * Dakhanavar
 * Dala-Kumara Yaka – Sri Lanka
 * Danag – Philippines
 * Danava
 * Dhampire (Slovakia) with the following variations in spelling:
 * Dhampyr
 * Dhampiresa
 * Dampyr
 * Dila – Philippines
 * Djadadjii – Bulgaria
 * 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.

E

 * Edimmu – Sumer \ Iraq with the following spelling variation:
 * Ekimmu
 * Ekek - Philippines
 * Empusa – Ancient Greece which is also called:
 * Mormolykiai
 * Empusas
 * Eretik – Russia
 * Estrie – Jewish Tradition

F

 * Fifollet – United States (Louisiana) also spelled:
 * Feu Follet

G

 * Gashadokuro – Japan
 * Glaistig (Scotland)
 * Garkain (Australia)
 * 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." Variants: Alqul (Arabia), Aluga (Bible; Proverbs 30:15), Balbal (Tagbanua, Philippines), Ghoulas (Algeria); Katacan (Sri Lanka).

H

 * 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
 * Hupia – Taíno with the spelling variations:
 * opia
 * opi'a
 * op'a
 * operi'to

I

 * Impundulu (South Africa)
 * plural iimpundulu
 * also called ishologu
 * Incubus/Succubus (Medieval Europe)
 * Inovercy (Russia)
 * Iso-onna – Japan

J

 * Jenglot – Indonesian and Malaysian
 * Jiangshi – China, also under the names of:
 * Kiang shi
 * Kuang shi
 * Chang Kuei
 * Cương Thi
 * Jaques Saint Germain - United States, Louisiana
 * Jigarkhwar – India
 * also spelled Jigarkhor
 * Joint-eater – Irish
 * also called Alp-luachra
 * Jubokko – Japan
 * Jure Grando – Croatia

K

 * 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
 * Kravopiec – Bulgarian
 * Kudlak – Czechoslovakia
 * Kumiho – Korea
 * Kuntilanak - Indonesia
 * Kukudhi – Albania
 * Kyuuketsuki 吸血鬼 – Japan
 * karalanos – Egypt
 * Katalina Bergeta - Norway

L

 * Laistrygones – Ancient Greece, also under the names of:
 * Laestrygones
 * Laistrygonians
 * Laestrygonians
 * La Llorona – Central America and the United States
 * Lamashtu – Mesopotamia
 * Lamia – Libya
 * Lampire – Bosnia
 * Langsuir – Malaysia, also under the names of:
 * Langsuyar
 * Pontianak
 * Kuntilanak
 * Leanashe – Ireland (dubious)
 * Lemures – Ancient Rome
 * Leyak – Indonesia
 * Liebava – Moravia
 * Lidérc – Hungary
 * Lilith לִּילִית – Sumer \ Iraq, with another name of:
 * Lilitu
 * Loango – Ashanti and Asanbosam people, Africa
 * Lobisomem – South America\Brazil
 * Loogaroo – Caribbean Islands \ Mauritius
 * Lugat – Albania, also under the name of:
 * Liogat
 * Kukuthi

M
Northwest
 * Mamba Mutu - Democratic Republic of the Congo
 * Manananggal – Philippines also spelled:
 * Tanggal
 * Mandurugo – Philippines
 * Mara – Slavonic also spelled:
 * Mora
 * Mati-Anak – Malaysia also spelled:
 * Pontianak
 * The Melrose Vampire – Melrose Abby, Scotland
 * Melusine – France
 * The Mikonos Vampire – Greece 1702
 * Mmbyu – India also spelled or an early form of:
 * Pocu Pati
 * Moroi - Romania
 * Mosquito Man - Native American, Pacific
 * Moskitto - North America
 * Mullo – Romani the plural being Mulé, with the following spelling variation:
 * Mullo
 * Muroni – Romania
 * Mjertovjec – Belarus
 * Meçkey – Turkic peoples, with the following spelling variation
 * Mhachkay
 * Meçik

N

 * Nachzehrer – Germany with the following possible spelling variations:
 * Neuntöter
 * Nachtöter
 * Nelapsi – Slovakia
 * Nora – Hungary
 * Nukekubi – Japan
 * Nure-onna – Japan

O

 * Obayifo – Ashanti
 * Obur – Bulgaria
 * Ohyn – Poland
 * Ol' Higue – Jamaica
 * Opyrb – Slavic with the following spelling variation:
 * Opirb

P

 * Pacu Pati – India
 * Palis - Iran
 * Papinijuwari – Australia
 * Pelesit – Malaysia
 * Penanggal – Malaysia
 * Petar Blagojevich – Serbia
 * Peuchen – Chile
 * Pricolici - Romania
 * Pichal Peri – India
 * Pichas – Nepal
 * Pishtaco – South America, Peru
 * Pontianak – Malaysia

R

 * Rakshasa – India
 * Raktha pisachi – India
 * Ramanga – Madagascar
 * Revenants – England
 * Richmond Vampire – Richmond, Virginia, USA
 * Riri Yaka – Sri Lanka
 * Ruza Vlajna – Serbia

S

 * Sava Savanović – Serbia
 * Sekhmet - Egypt
 * Shade
 * Shtriga – Albania
 * Sigbin – Philippines
 * Snallygaster - America
 * Soucouyant – Trinidadian Guadeloupean it has the spelling variation:
 * Soucriant
 * Stregoni benefici – Italy
 * Strigoi – Romania with the following variations:
 * Strigoaica
 * Moroi
 * Strix – Ancient Rome with the following spelling variations:
 * Striga
 * Stirge
 * Strige
 * Strzyga – Slavic
 * Suangi – New Guinea
 * Sukuyan – Caribbean
 * Succubus – Judeo-Christian
 * Sybaris – Greece

T

 * Talamaur – Australia
 * Teyollohcuani – Mexico
 * Thayé – Burma with the spelling variation:
 * Tasei
 * Tlahuelpuchi – Mexico with the following spelling variation:
 * Tlaciques

U

 * Ubour – Bulgaria
 * Upiór – Poland
 * Upír – Slovakia
 * Upir – Ukraine though could be linked to:
 * Upyr – Russia
 * Uruku – Mesopotamia
 * Ustrel – Bulgaria
 * Utukku – Iraq

V

 * Vampire pumpkins and watermelons (Balkan)
 * vampiros (Brazil and Portugal)
 * Vapir (Bulgaria)
 * Vârcolac (Romania) – variations: Pricolici and Varcolaci
 * Vǎrkolak (Bulgaria)
 * Vendalla (Ethiopia)
 * Vetalas (India)
 * Vhlk'h dlaka (Greece)
 * Vipir
 * Vjesci (Poland)
 * Opji
 * Wupji
 * Vampir (Serbia, Slovenia, Yugoslavia, Bosnia and Croatia)
 * Vlkodlak (Siberia) – Variants: Volkodlak, Volkoslak
 * Vrykolakas βρυκόλακας (Greece) – variation: Vorvolakas
 * Vrykolatios (Santorini)

W

 * Wak Wak (Philippines)
 * Wampir (Poland)
 * Wurdulac (Russia) has a spelling variation:
 * Verdilak

Y

 * Yama – Tibet, Nepal and Mongolia
 * Yara-ma-yha-who – Australia
 * Yaka – Sri Lanka
 * Yaksha – Sri Lanka, India
 * Yuki-onna - Japan

Z

 * Zaloznye Pokojniki – Russia
 * Zburător - Romania
 * Zorfabio – New Zealand
 * Zaolas – Brazil