The origins of the Helston name lie with England's ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It comes from when the family lived in the village of Elton, which was in the county of Cheshire.
The surname Helston 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]
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Helston research. Another 77 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1618, 1654, 1728, 1722, 1727, 1679, 1742, 1724, 1727, 1727, 1710, 1711, 1719, 1720, 1650, 1649 and 1654 are included under the topic Early Helston History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Helston were recorded, including Elton, Eltone, Helton, Ellton and others.
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 Helston Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Helston family emigrate to North America: