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

Helt, 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 Helt surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Helt in America

Helt is the 12274th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Helt surname appeared 2,534 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Helt.

We can also compare 2010 data for Helt 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 Helt

The surname HELT is of Old English origin, derived from the word "hælthan" which means "to limp" or "to halt". It is believed to have originated in the northern regions of England, particularly in Yorkshire and Lancashire, during the 12th century.

The earliest recorded instance of the name HELT can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1195, where a person named William Helt is mentioned as a landowner. It is possible that this individual may have acquired the surname due to a physical disability or a distinctive walking pattern.

In the 13th century, the name HELT appeared in various records across northern England, such as the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire from 1246, which references a Richard Helt. This suggests that the surname had become more widespread during this period.

One notable historical figure bearing the name HELT was Sir John Helt, a knight from Lancashire who lived in the late 14th century. He was a prominent figure in the local gentry and served as a member of the royal household under King Richard II.

The name HELT also has connections to certain place names in England. For instance, the village of Helton in Dorset was once known as "Helt-tun" in the Domesday Book of 1086, potentially derived from the Old English words "hælthan" and "tun" (meaning "town" or "settlement").

Another significant figure with the surname HELT was William Helt, born in 1587 in Yorkshire. He was a renowned scholar and author, best known for his work "A Treatise on the Origins of English Surnames," published in 1621. This book provided valuable insights into the study of surnames and their origins.

In the 17th century, the name HELT was found in various records across England, including the Parish Registers of Nottinghamshire, where a family by the name of Helt resided in the village of Bingham. One notable member of this family was John Helt, born in 1643, who served as a local magistrate and landowner.

Furthermore, the surname HELT has been associated with several notable figures throughout history, such as the English poet and playwright Thomas Helt (1608-1674), whose works were widely renowned during the Renaissance period.

It is important to note that while the surname HELT has a rich history and has been documented in various records over the centuries, its prevalence and geographical distribution may have shifted over time due to migration patterns and other factors.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Helt

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

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

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

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