Find out how popular the last name Helem is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Helem.

Helem, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Helem surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Helem in America

Helem is the 144141st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Helem surname appeared 115 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Helem.

We can also compare 2010 data for Helem to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Helem

The surname HELEM is believed to have originated in England, likely during the Middle Ages. It may have derived from an Old English word "helm," meaning "helmet" or "protection." Alternatively, it could have been a locational name referring to a person who lived near a prominent helm or hill.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the HELEM surname appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests the name's presence in England during the Norman conquest.

In the 13th century, records show a Simon de Helem residing in Yorkshire, indicating the name's spread across northern England. The spelling variations included Helme, Hellam, and Helom, reflecting regional dialects and scribal variations.

During the 14th century, a John Helem was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, indicating the name's presence in the West Midlands region. Around the same time, a Robert de Helem was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Nottinghamshire.

Notable individuals with the HELEM surname include:

1. William Helem (c. 1420-1489), an English merchant and alderman of London.
2. Richard Helem (1575-1641), an English clergyman and scholar known for his theological writings.
3. Thomas Helem (1618-1677), an English nobleman and landowner in Hertfordshire.
4. Elizabeth Helem (1690-1754), a prominent figure in the Quaker community of Pennsylvania.
5. John Helem (1732-1801), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War.

While the HELEM surname may have originated from a location or an occupational reference, it has since become a well-established family name with a rich history spanning centuries in England and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Helem

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Helem.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Helem was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Helem has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Helem was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Helem, please contact us.

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