Show ContentsHelm History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Helm family

The surname Helm was first found in Austria, where the name became noted for its many branches in the region, each house acquiring a status and influence which was envied by the princes of the region. In their later history the name became a power unto themselves and were elevated to the ranks of nobility as they grew into this most influential family.

Early History of the Helm family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Helm research. Another 103 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1753 and 1863 are included under the topic Early Helm History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Helm Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Helm, Helm, Helmm, van den Helm and others.

Early Notables of the Helm family

During this period prominent bearers of the name Helm were

  • the Helm family of Austria

Helm Ranking

In the United States, the name Helm is the 2,326th most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. [1]


United States Helm migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Helm Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Israel Helm, who arrived in Delaware in 1693 [2]
Helm Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Johann Michael Helm, who landed in New York in 1709 [2]
  • Peter Helm, his wife, and six sons and one daughter who arrived in 1709 in New England
  • Simon Helm, who arrived in New York, NY in 1709 [2]
  • Willem Helm, who arrived in America in 1730 [2]
  • Joh Adam Helm, who landed in America in 1750-1753 [2]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Helm Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Henry Anthony Helm, aged 27, who landed in New York in 1812 [2]
  • Adam Helm, who arrived in Baltimore, Maryland in 1830 [2]
  • Adam Helm, who emigrated from Hessia to Baltimore with his wife and five children in 1830
  • David Helm, aged 45, who arrived in America in 1839 [2]
  • Michael Helm, aged 48, who arrived in America in 1839 [2]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Helm migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Helm Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Catherine Helm, aged 44, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1855
  • Elizabeth Helm, aged 17, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1855
  • Friedrich Helm, aged 25, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1855
  • Jacob Helm, aged 11, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1855
  • Jacob Helm, aged 46, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1855
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Helm migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Helm Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. George Helm, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Jura" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 23rd September 1858 [3]
  • Mr. George Helm, (b. 1830), aged 33, British farm labourer travelling from London, UK aboard the ship "Brothers Pride" arriving in Lyttelton, South Island, New Zealand on 8th December 1863 [3]
  • Mrs. Isabella Helm, (b. 1830), aged 33, British settler travelling from London, UK aboard the ship "Brothers Pride" arriving in Lyttelton, South Island, New Zealand on 8th December 1863 [3]
  • Miss Janet Helm, (b. 1844), aged 19, British domestic servant travelling from London, UK aboard the ship "Brothers Pride" arriving in Lyttelton, South Island, New Zealand on 8th December 1863 [3]
  • Mr. William Helm, (b. 1854), aged 9, British settler travelling from London, UK aboard the ship "Brothers Pride" arriving in Lyttelton, South Island, New Zealand on 8th December 1863 [3]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Helm (post 1700) +

  • Lorin Edwin Helm (1920-1945), American football coach
  • W. Stuart Helm (1908-1986), American former politician, 126th Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives (1957-1958)
  • Susan C. Helm (b. 1943), American politician, Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives (2007-)
  • Benjamin Hardin Helm (1831-1863), American politician, attorney, Confederate brigadier general, and a brother-in-law of Abraham Lincoln
  • John LaRue Helm (1802-1867), American politician, the 18th and 24th Governor of Kentucky in 1867 and (1850-1851)
  • Mark Lavon "Levon" Helm (1940-2012), American three-time Grammy Award winning rock multi-instrumentalist and actor who achieved fame as the drummer and frequently lead and backing vocalist for The Band, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2012)
  • Rear Admiral James Meredith Helm (1855-1927), American naval officer, eponym of the USS Helm (DD-388)
  • Brigitte Helm (1906-1996), born Brigitte Eva Gisela Schittenhelm, a German actress, best remembered for her dual role as Maria and her double, the Maschinenmensch, in Fritz Lang's 1927 silent film Metropolis
  • Rüdiger Helm (b. 1956), East German thirteen-time gold medalist sprint canoer
  • Anne Helm (b. 1938), Canadian Laurel Award nominated actress, known for her work on General Hospital (1963), Follow That Dream (1962) and The Magic Sword (1962)
  • ... (Another 7 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

USS Arizona
  • Mr. Merritt Cameron Helm, American Seaman First Class from Minnesota, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking [4]


Suggested Readings for the name Helm +

  • Vengeance!: The Saga of Poor Tom Cover (also Helm) by Dan L. Thrapp.

  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  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. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  4. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html


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