Helton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The Anglo-Saxon name Helton comes from the family having resided in the village of Elton, which was in the county of Cheshire.

Early Origins of the Helton family

The surname Helton was first found in Cheshire, at Elton, a village and civil parish which dates back to the Domesday Book where it was listed as Eltone. 1

There are at least five other villages named Elton scattered throughout Britain but this locale seems to be the oldest. The name has various different origins, but the most prominent meaning is "farmstead where eels are caught." Others include: "farmstead of the princes;" "farmstead of a man called Ella;" and "farmstead associated with a man called AEthel."

The Helston variant hails from the town so named in Cornwall. "The origin of Helston town is equally as uncertain. Mr. Polwhele intimates, that Helston was not unknown as a town so early as the landing of Cesar upon the British shores. 'Helles-ton or Hellas-ton,' says Hals, 'hath upon the north and east Gwendron, west, Sithney and the Loe Pool, south, Mawgan and Gunwallo. As for the first name it signifies a broad hall or college town ; or a town which had a large hall, a palace, court, or manor." 2

Early History of the Helton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Helton research. Another 77 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1618, 1649, 1650, 1654, 1679, 1710, 1711, 1719, 1720, 1722, 1724, 1727, 1728 and 1742 are included under the topic Early Helton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Helton Spelling Variations

Helton has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Spelling variants included: Elton, Eltone, Helton, Ellton and others.

Early Notables of the Helton family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Ambrose Elton, JP, of The Hazle, Ledbury, High Sheriff of Herefordshire in 1618; Sir Abraham Elton, 1st Baronet of Bristol (1654-1728), English peer, Mayor of and Member of Parliament for Bristol from 1722 to 1727; and his son, Sir Abraham Elton, 2nd Baronet (1679-1742,), English peer and politician, Member of Parliament for Taunton between 1724 and 1727, and then for...
Another 68 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Helton Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Helton Ranking

In the United States, the name Helton is the 1,319^th most popular surname with an estimated 22,383 people with that name. 3

Helton migration to the United States +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Heltons to arrive on North American shores:

Helton Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Jane Helton, who arrived in Virginia in 1715 4

Helton Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Edward Helton, aged 56, who immigrated to America, in 1895
Thomas S. Helton, aged 34, who immigrated to the United States, in 1896

Helton Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

John Helton, aged 38, who landed in America from Southampton, in 1903
James V Helton, aged 29, who immigrated to the United States, in 1907
Samuel Helton, aged 29, who settled in America, in 1913
Thomas Helton, aged 52, who landed in America from Poole, England, in 1916
Ivor S. Helton, aged 22, who landed in America, in 1922
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Helton (post 1700) +

Johann Helton (b. 1953), American guitarist, bassist, teacher and sound engineer
Kim Helton (b. 1948), American, football offensive coordinator for the University of Alabama at Birmingham
Derrick Helton (b. 1985), American six-time gold medalist Paralympic wheelchair rugby player
Barry Bret Helton (b. 1965), former American college and NFL football player for the San Francisco 49ers (1988–1990) and the Los Angeles Rams (1991)
Charles Clay Helton (b. 1972), American former football player and current head coach of the USC Trojans football team
Percy Alfred Michel Helton (1894-1971), American film and television actor
John Helton (b. 1947), American former defensive lineman in the CFL
Raymond C. Helton, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate in primary for Michigan State Senate 4th District, 1948
Roy Helton (1886-1977), American poet
Michael Helton (b. 1953), American president of the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR)
... (Another 3 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Helton 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: Artibus et armis
Motto Translation: By arts and arms.

Citations +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
"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)