Meaning and origin
The last name Helms is of German origin and has its roots in the medieval occupational name "Helm," meaning "helmet." The name denotes someone involved in the manufacturing or selling of helmets, reflecting a historical connection to the armor and weaponry industry.
Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.
#1,493
Helms was the 1,493rd most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 23,949 people, about 7.8 in every 100,000.
Who carries it
Surnames like Helms
Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.
Check the sources
- Forebears: where Helms is found around the world
- The Internet Surname Database: a second opinion on the origin
- US Census Bureau: the 2010 surname figures used here
For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.