Vampires are mythological or folkloric beings who subsist by feeding on the life essence (generaly in the form of blood) of living creatures, regardless of weather they are undead or a living person/being. although vampiric entities have been recorded in many cultures, and may go back to "prehistoric times".
The term vampire was not popularized until the early 18th century. After an influx of vampire superstition into western Europe from areas where vampire legends were fequent, such as the balkans although local variants were also known by different names. Such as Vrykolakas in greece and strigoi in romaina.