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

Helmy, 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 Helmy surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Helmy in America

Helmy is the 59171st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Helmy surname appeared 342 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 Helmy.

We can also compare 2010 data for Helmy 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 Helmy

The surname Helmy has its origins in the Arab world, specifically in Egypt. It can be traced back to the medieval period, when it was derived from the Arabic word "hilm," meaning gentleness or forbearance. The name likely originated as a descriptive surname, given to individuals known for their calm and patient demeanor.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Helmy can be found in a 13th-century manuscript detailing the lineage of prominent Egyptian families. This document mentions a scholar and poet named Ahmed al-Helmy, who lived during the Ayyubid dynasty (1171-1260).

During the Mamluk period (1250-1517), the name Helmy gained further prominence, with several individuals bearing this surname holding important positions in the government and military. One notable figure was Badr al-Din Helmy, a skilled archer and commander who served under Sultan Al-Nasir Muhammad (1293-1341).

As the surname spread across the Arab world, variations in spelling emerged, such as Halmy and Hilmy. In the 18th century, a renowned scholar and traveler from Damascus, Mohammad al-Hilmy, chronicled his journeys throughout the Middle East, leaving behind valuable accounts of the region's history and culture.

The name Helmy also found its way into the literary world, with the famous Egyptian novelist and playwright Tawfiq al-Helmy (1867-1913) being one of the most celebrated figures to bear this surname. His works, which explored social and political themes, played a significant role in shaping modern Egyptian literature.

Another notable individual was Mustafa al-Helmy (1901-1963), an influential politician and statesman who served as the Prime Minister of Egypt from 1939 to 1944. His tenure coincided with a crucial period in Egypt's history, including World War II and the struggle for independence from British rule.

Throughout history, the surname Helmy has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, artists, military leaders, and political figures. While its origins can be traced back to medieval Egypt, the name has since spread across the Arab world and beyond, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and diversity of the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Helmy

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

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 Helmy 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 Helmy 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 Helmy was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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