Contents [hide]

Helms History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Helms History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany

Helms is a name that was formed by the Anglo-Saxon society of old Britain. The name was thought to have been used for someone who once worked as a herdsman. The surname Helms is derived from the Old English word helm, which means a covering. In some later dialects, this word took on the which means of a roofed shelter for cattle. Occupational names such as Helms frequently were derived from the principal object associated with the activity of the original bearer, such as tools or products. These types of occupational surnames are called metonymic surnames.

Early Origins of the Helms family

The surname Helms was first found in Surrey where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Helms family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Helms research. Another 94 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1180 and 1500 are included under the topic Early Helms History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Helms Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Helms include Helme, Helm, Helms and others.

Early Notables of the Helms family

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

Helms Ranking

In the United States, the name Helms is the 1,045^th most popular surname with an estimated 29,844 people with that name. 1

Helms migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Helms were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Helms Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Jan Helms, who landed in New York, NY in 1642 2
Hans Helms, who arrived in New Netherland(s) in 1642 2
Johan Helms, who landed in New Netherland(s) in 1642 2

Helms Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Emus Helms, who landed in New York in 1746 2
Andrew Helms, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1763 2
Peter Helms, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1766 2

Helms Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Henry Helms, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1860 2
Margaretha Helms, aged 24, who arrived in New York, NY in 1893 2

Helms Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Marshall Helms, aged 31, arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Allianca" from Cristobal, C. Z. 3
Florence M. Helms, aged 31, arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Allianca" from Cristobal, C. Z. 3
Guy F. Helms, aged 39, arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Patria" from Marseilles, France 3
Chr. Hermann Helms, aged 52, originally from Bremen, Germany, arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship "Rotterdam" from Rotterdam, Netherlands 3
Lotte Helms, aged 9, originally from Bremerhafen, Germany, arrived in New York City, New York in 1920 aboard the ship "Nieuw Amsterdam" from Rotterdam, Netherlands 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Helms migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Helms Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Ellen Helms, aged 30, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Preston" from Sligo, Ireland

Contemporary Notables of the name Helms (post 1700) +

Richard McGarrah Helms (1913-2002), American government official and diplomat who served as Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) from 1966 to 1973
Harold Parks Helms (1935-2023), American politician, Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives (1974-1984)
William Helms (d. 1813), American politician, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's at-large congressional district (1801-1811)
Wesley Ray "Wes" Helms (b. 1976), American former professional baseball third baseman, first baseman, and outfielder, nephew of Tommy Helms
Tommy Vann Helms (b. 1941), American former Major League Baseball player and manager
Paul Hoy Helms (1889-1957), American businessman who He founded Helms Bakery in 1931 and co-founded Helms Athletic Foundation in 1936
Mike Helms (b. 1982), American former professional basketball player
Jonee Lynn Helms (1925-2011), US Marine Corps officer, United States Federal Aviation Administrator (1981-1984), President of Piper Aircraft Corp
John Newton "Johnny" Helms (1935-2015), American jazz trumpet player, bandleader, and music educator
John Henry Helms (1874-1919), United States Marine, recipient of the Medal of Honor for saving a shipmate from drowning
... (Another 34 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Helms family +

Bismarck

Friedrich Helms (1914-1982), German Bootsmannsmaat serving aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he survived the sinking 4

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details