Surname Helms - Meaning and Origin

Unveiling Surprising Ancestry: A Remarkable Journey into My Helms Heritage with iGENEA DNA Test

With the recent completion of my DNA test conducted by iGENEA, I was ushered into a world of genetic revelations. One of the most unexpected findings was the dual origin of my surname, Helms, traditionally thought to be exclusively Germanic, and the astonishing discovery of an ancient warrior lineage.

F. Helms

Helms: What does the surname Helms mean?

Helms is a surname of Germanic origin. It is derived from the personal name Helm, which means "helmet" in Old German. The name can be traced back to the medieval period and was typically given to individuals who were known for wearing or producing helmets, perhaps a soldier or an armourer. It might have also been used metaphorically to refer to someone who provided protection to others. It can be thus categorized as an occupational or descriptive surname. Over centuries, the name spread to various parts of Europe and the world with regional variants, as a result of immigration and movement of people. It could also be found as a place name, such as Helmsley in Yorkshire, England.

Helms: Where does the name Helms come from?

The surname Helms is of Anglo-Saxon origin and derived from the medieval English personal name Helm. Helm, in this context, stands for "protection" or "defence". It commonly emerged during the early 8th century and was particularly popular in Yorkshire and Lancashire regions in England.

The name evolved over time, resulting in several variants including Helme, Helmore, and others. The name Helms could also link to a geographical location, as Helme is a village in West Yorkshire.

In modern times, the Helms surname is prevalent in the United States, particularly the Eastern part of the country. It is also found in England, Germany, and Australia. Notable people with this surname include actor Helmut Bakaitis, American politician Jesse Helms, and musician Levon Helm.

Variations of the surname Helms

The surname Helms is of English and German origin. Its variations and other surnames from the same origin include Helm, Helsby, Helmsley, and Helme. It's possible that it may also be related to the surnames Holmes and Halm.

The Helms surname could have been a metonymic occupational name for a helmet maker, deriving from the Middle English term "helm" meaning a protective covering or helmet. In German, Helms possibly originates from the northern personal name Helm, short for various compound names formed with helm, which means helmet.

In terms of spelling variations, it can be found as Helm, Helme, Halm, Helmese, Halems, and Healmes in historical records. Due to the phonetic nature of old handwritten records, indexers might have logged the name based on how it sounded, leading to various misspelling. It's interesting to note that similar occupational surnames like "Armour" or "Shield" may not be related, as surnames can derive from a variety of sources including jobs, geographical areas, nicknames, or parental lineage.

Any Helm or related surname can also come with prefixes that denote son of or from a certain place, such as van or von.

Famous people with the name Helms

• DJ Jazzy Jeff, also known as Jeffrey Allen Townes, is an American hip hop and R&B DJ, record producer, and comedian. His alias is known as "DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince," making him half of the rap duo "DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince" with Will Smith.
• Eddie Helms, an American singer and one of the first bluegrass influential figures in the 1950's. During this time, he would be the first to drop the banjo and fiddle into bluegrass trinity of the mandolin, guitar, and bass.
• John Helms, an American country music artist who released his self-titled debut in 1993 and has gone on to release two more albums, Road to Jackson Town (1995) and Garden of Stones (2003).
• Scott Helms, an American singer and songwriter from Burnettown, South Carolina. He has released two albums, Spread Your Wings (2006) and A Few Miles Along The Shore (2008).
• Charlotte Helms, a musician from Nashville, Tennessee. She has released four solo albums, including Telltale Signs of Life (2004), The Bronze Age (2007), Psychic Flight (2009) and Interest (2013).
• Julianna Helms, an American film actress and producer. She has appeared in such films as 2002's Time of Your Life, 2007's Like Crazy, and 2012's Soliloquy.
• Peter Helms, an Austrian-born film and television actor, best known for his roles in such films as 2009's World without End and 2013's Paradise Lost.
• Max Helms, a Denver-born film producer and editor who worked on such films as 2002's The Quiet American and 2004's Million Dollar Baby.
• Alex Helms, an American musician, singer and songwriter. He has released two albums, Last Call (2011) and Invisible Lines (2015).
• Mark Helms, an American Christian music singer and guitarist. He has released two albums, Frame the Word (2005) and Live at the River (2012).

Other surnames

HelmHelmanHelmantolerHelmarHelmboldHelmboldtHelmbrechtHelmchenHelmckeHelmckenHelmdachHelmdagHelmeckeHelmedachHelmekeHelmelHelmentagHelmerHelmerdingHelmerichHelmerichsHelmeringHelmerkingHelmersHelmertHelmerthHelmetagHelmholdHelmholdtHelmholtz