Show ContentsHelman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Helman family

The surname Helman was first found in Essex where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. The Saxon influence of English history diminished after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed. But Saxon surnames survived and the family name was first referenced in the year 1274 when William Helman held lands.

Early History of the Helman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Helman research. Another 77 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Helman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Helman Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Helman are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Helman include: Helman, Hellman and others.

Early Notables of the Helman family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • the Helman family of Essex

Helman Ranking

In the United States, the name Helman is the 7,970th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1


Helman migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Helman or a variant listed above:

Helman Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Stephen Helman, who was a Bonded passenger to America in 1685
Helman Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Adam Helman, who arrived in New York in 1709 2
  • Eliza Catherine Helman, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1771 2
Helman Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John Helman, who was naturalized in South Carolina in 1824
  • Christian J Helman, who landed in Mississippi in 1854 2
Helman Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mr. Charles Helman, (b. 1884), aged 18, English blacksmith from Dartmouth, Devon, England, UK travelling aboard the ship "St Paul" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 14th January 1900 en route to Cleveland, Ohio, USA 3

Helman 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:

Helman Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Miss Mary Anne Helman, (b. 1864), aged 6 months, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Indian Empire" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 23rd July 1865 4
  • Mrs. Ann Helman, (b. 1833), aged 32, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Indian Empire" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 23rd July 1865 4
  • Mr. John Helman, (b. 1858), aged 7, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Indian Empire" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 23rd July 1865 4
  • Mr. Alexander Helman, (b. 1860), aged 5, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Indian Empire" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 23rd July 1865 4
  • Mr. James Helman, (b. 1862), aged 3, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Indian Empire" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 23rd July 1865 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Helman (post 1700) +

  • Nathaniel T. Helman (b. 1905), American Democratic Party politician, Member of New York State Senate, 1950-60 (26th District 1950-54, 28th District 1955-60);
  • Henry Helman Jr., American politician, Mayor of Alma, Michigan, 1973-81
  • Clyde Helman, American politician, Mayor of Girard, Ohio, 1951
  • Terry N. Helman, U.S. Navy, American radioman at McMurdo Station, 1967, eponym of the Helman Glacier, Antarctica
  • Nathaniel T. Helman (1905-1993), American lawyer and politician, member of the New York State Senate (1950-1954) and (1955-1960)
  • Abel D. Helman (1824-1910), American pioneer of Ashland, Oregon; born in Wayne, Ashland County, Ohio, he sailed for California via Aspinwall (Panama) arriving in San Francisco in 1850 and a year later drove a mule team to the Willamette Valley of Oregon, arriving in Salem
  • Rick Helman, American photographer
  • Paul Helman Ph.D., American Professor Emeritus of Computer Science at the University of New Mexico
  • Joanne Helman, English artist
  • Zofia Helman (b. 1937), Polish musicologist and an honorary member of the Polish Composers' Union
  • ... (Another 3 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  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. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  4. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


Houseofnames.com on Facebook