Show ContentsHelder History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Helder is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived near a slope or hillside. The surname Helder is derived from the Old English words helde, hilde, hielde, and hylde, which all mean hill. This name belongs to the class of topographic surnames, which were given to people who resided near physical features such as hills, streams, churches, or types of trees.

Early Origins of the Helder family

The surname Helder was first found in Kent where Adam de Helde was listed there in the Pipe Rolls of 1207. A few years later, Richard del Helde was listed in the Assize Rolls of Lancashire in 1246. Eustace ater Hylde and Matthew atte Hulde were listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296. 1

Early History of the Helder family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Helder research. Another 83 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Helder History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Helder Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Helder are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Helder include: Heald, Healde and others.

Early Notables of the Helder family

More information is included under the topic Early Helder Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Helder migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Helder or a variant listed above:

Helder Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • John Helder, who arrived in Virginia in 1703 2
  • Johan Jacob Helder, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1754 2
  • Martin Helder, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1763 2
  • Michael Helder, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1765 2
Helder Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Cornelis W Helder, aged 21, who landed in New York in 1848 2
  • Georg Karl Helder, who arrived in America in 1850 2
  • Peter Helder, who arrived in North America in 1850 2
  • Karoline Helder, who arrived in North America in 1850 2
  • Katharina Luise Helder, who landed in North America in 1850 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Helder (post 1700) +

  • Herberto Helder Luís Bernardes de Oliveira (1930-2015), Portuguese poet
  • John Helder Wedge (1792-1872), English-born colonial statesman who arrived in Tasmania in 1827, having received an appointment in the survey department 3
  • Helder Guimaraes (b. 1982), Portuguese performer, magician, and storyteller
  • Helder Pessoa Camara (b. 1909), Roman Catholic theologian and clergyman, born in Fortaleza, Brazil. Archbishop of Olinda and Recife (1964--84), and received international recognition with the award of the Martin Luther King, Jr, Peace Prize (1970) and the People's Prize (1973)


The Helder Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Mea gloria crux
Motto Translation: The cross is my glory.


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  3. Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 30 Jan. 2019


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