Helers History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

Etymology of Helers

What does the name Helers mean?

The history of the Helers family name begins in the German province of Bavaria. Helers is a nickname surname, a class of German names derived from eke-names, or added names, that described people by a personal characteristic or other attribute. Helers is a name for a person who lived in the Swabian town of Hall. Residents were so named because of the small medieval coin referred to as a heller which was first minted in the town in 1208.

Early Origins of the Helers family

The surname Helers was first found in Bavaria, where this family made important contributions toward the development of this kingdom from ancient times. Always prominent in social and political affairs, the family formed alliances with other families within the Feudal System and the nation. In the Middle Ages, the word "heller" referred to the coins that had been produced in Schwaebisch-Hall since the year 1208. Individual bearers of this name first mentioned in ancient chronicles include Herr Volkhart der Heller (1278) of Freiburg, Rudolph der Heller (b.1302,) a farmer in Zuerich, and Johann Heller (1378) of Goerlingen.

Early History of the Helers family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Helers research. Another 179 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1595, 1646, 1728 and 1756 are included under the topic Early Helers History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Helers Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Helers include Heller, Hellern, Heler, Hellers, Hellerer, Helere, Hellere and many more.

Early Notables of the Helers family

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

Migration of the Helers family

Between the mid-17th and mid-20th centuries, German settlers arrived in North America by the thousands. Persecution based on religion and poverty were great motivators in this large-scale migration. So too was the opportunity for tenant farmers to own their own land. Ample land and opportunity awaited the settlers who went to such states as Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California, as well as Ontario and the prairie provinces of Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Helers or a variant listed above: Rudolph Heller, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1728. Heinrich Haller came to Philadelphia in 1733; while Francis Heller landed in Charles Town, South Carolina in 1768..