Contents [hide]

Heller History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

Heller History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany
Israel

The name Heller was carried to England in the enormous movement of people that followed the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Heller family lived in Devon. This name is, however, not a reference to that area, but to the family's place of residence prior to their emigration to England with the Norman Conquest of 1066, St. Hellier, near Rouen, Normandy. 1

Alternatively the name could have been derived from "the Anglo-Saxon helan, like the southern provincialism, to heal, signifies to cover; and in the West of England a hellier is a thatcher or tiler, equivalent to the French couvreur, one who covers buildings with any material whatever. It was a kind of generic appellative, including the Thatchers, Tylers, Slaters, Shinglers, and Reeders, all of whom are also separately represented in our family nomenclature. In Walsingham's History, the arch-traitor, Wat Tyler, is designated 'Walterus Helier.' " 2

Early Origins of the Heller family

The surname Heller was first found in Devon.

While many of the family hail from Devon, early rolls proved the widespread use of the name likely as an occupational one. In Kent, Robert le Heliere was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1275; Gilbert le Helyere was listed in Hampshire in 1280 and Robert le Hillier was found in Bedforshire in 1347. 3

There were two early records in Somerset: Michael le Helier and William le Heliere, both listed 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of King Edward III.) 4

The reader should note that all these early entries include "le" in reference to the trade as in, Robert "the" Heliere and so on.

Early History of the Heller family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Heller research. Another 123 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1503, 1522, 1524, 1525, 1535, 1662, 1677, 1680, 1682, 1684, 1687, 1690 and 1697 are included under the topic Early Heller History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Heller Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Hellier, Helliar, Helyar, Hellyer and others.

Early Notables of the Heller family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Henry Hellier (1662?-1697), English divine, born at Chew-Dundry, Somersetshire, about 1662, the son of Henry Hellier. He became scholar of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, in April 1677, and graduated B.A. 1680, M.A. 1682, B.D. 1690, and D.D. 1697. He was ordained deacon at Christ Church...
Another 53 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Heller Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Heller Ranking

In the United States, the name Heller is the 1,445^th most popular surname with an estimated 22,383 people with that name. 5 However, in France, the name Heller is ranked the 3,595^th most popular surname with an estimated 1,500 - 2,000 people with that name. 6

Heller migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Heller or a variant listed above:

Heller Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Hans Atam Heller, who arrived in New York in 1709 7
Wolff Heller, who arrived in New York in 1709 7
Rudolph Heller, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1728
Christopher Heller, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1738 7
Johann Christopher Heller, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1738 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Heller Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Heinr Heller, who landed in America in 1818 7
Peter Heller, who landed in North America in 1837 7
August Heller, who arrived in Baltimore, Maryland in 1839 7
Augustus Heller, who landed in Baltimore, Maryland in 1839 7
George Phillip Heller, aged 29, who arrived in Missouri in 1840 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Heller migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Heller Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Ms. Elizabeth Heller U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 8

Heller migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Heller Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Thomas Heller, aged 16, British settler who arrived in Adelaide, South Australia aboard the "Hesperus" in 1883

Contemporary Notables of the name Heller (post 1700) +

Dr. Harold William "Bill" Heller (1935-2020), American politician and educator, Member of the Florida House of Representatives
Gerald E. "Jerry" Heller (1940-2016), American music manager and businessman
Edmund Heller (1875-1939), American zoologist, President of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (1935-1936) and (1937-1938)
Dean Arthur Heller (b. 1960), American politician, United States Senator from Nevada (2011-)
Amos Arthur Heller (1867-1944), American botanist
Joseph Heller (1923-1999), contemporary American writer, who became famous through his novel "Catch-22"
Steven Heller (b. 1950), American art director, journalist, critic, author and editor
Dean Heller (b. 1960), American Republican politician, Member of Nevada State House of Representatives, 1990-94; Secretary of State of Nevada, 1995-2007 9
David N. Heller, American Democratic Party politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Chemung County, 1899; Mayor of Elmira, New York, 1926-29; Candidate for Justice of New York Supreme Court 6th District, 1929 9
Clifton W. Heller, American Republican politician, Candidate in primary for Delegate to Michigan State Constitutional Convention from Shiawassee District, 1961 9
... (Another 32 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Heller family +

Empress of Ireland

Mr. Abram Heller (1872-1914), Belgian Third Class Passenger from Antwerp, Belgium who survived the sinking on the Empress of Ireland 10

The Heller 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: Pro republica semper
Motto Translation: For the state always.

Citations +

The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
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)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 16) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 16) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html