Surname Helan - Meaning and Origin
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Helan: What does the surname Helan mean?
The last name Helan is of French origin and is derived from an Old French personal name "Helanus." The name is derived from the Greek word "helas" meaning "sun." It is thought to have originally been a byname or nickname, given to someone with a physical or personal characteristic associated with the sunlight.
The surname is typically spelled in a variety of ways, such as "Helan," "Helam," "Helais," and "Heleau." In some cases it is also spelled with a silent "t" at the end, thus becoming "Helant." The name is especially common in England, where it is the 58th most common last name and in France, where it is the 123rd most common name.
Originally, the surname was conferred as a sign of respect. It is believed to have been used to describe someone as radiant and bright, for example, a leader of men. It is likely that the name has been in use for centuries, given its common origins in both England and France.
In modern times, the last name Helan may be used as a homage to those who held the name before or an homage to the sun itself. It is a reminder of the beauty and power of the sun and an indication of the strength and brightness of someone's character.
Order DNA origin analysisHelan: Where does the name Helan come from?
The last name Helan is primarily found in the United States as well as in India. In the United States, it has its earliest origins in Pennsylvania, where it was already established in the 1700s. Many of these early Helan families originated from German settlers and there are still a great many descendants to this day.
In India, the surname has been particularly prominent in the southern states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. It has been particularly associated with the Naicker caste, belonging to the sub-caste known as Vellalar. Traditionally this was a caste of agriculturalists and village administrators, and members of the Naicker community have contributed greatly to the political and cultural history of the region.
In terms of its modern distribution, the name continues to remain popular today in both the United States and India. It is found in all of the major cities, as well as rural areas and many remote villages. In the United States, you can find many Helans living in New York, California, Illinois, Massachusetts and many other states. It is also known to be the 62,568^th most common name in the country.
In India, it ranks as the 110,284^th most common name, and is found in greatest concentration in the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka states. As such, if you’re looking for someone with the last name Helan, you’re most likely to find them in either of these countries.
Variations of the surname Helan
The surname Helan can be spelled in a few different ways, including Hellan, Heller, Hellen, Ellan, and Elan. All of these spellings are of the same origin.
The surname Helan is thought to have originated in England, in the region known as old Norse. It is a toponymic surname, meaning that it was originally derived from the name of a place, in this case, probably Helen Hill. Helan is derived from an Old Norse given name, Hjalmar, which means ‘warrior’ or ‘armoured man’.
The variants of the Helan surname also come from a variety of other languages such as German, Greek, and Hebrew. In German the variant Heller means ‘bright’ or ‘illustrious’, which is often sought to represent a ‘bright warrior’ or ‘noble warrior’. The Greek variant Hellen is derived from the name Helen and the Hebrew variant Elan, originally El-Ahanam, translates to ‘tree of God’.
Throughout history, the Helan name has given rise to multiple spellings and surnames, including Elan, Hellan, Heller, Hellen, similar to other English surnames such as Allan, Allen, Allan. Despite their various forms, all of these surnames trace back to the same origin - the Old Norse given name Hjalmar.
Famous people with the name Helan
- Tim Helan: retired basketball player
- Anne Helan: actress
- Jeremy Helan: footballer
- Nat Helan: film producer
- Jim Helan: actor
- Kenny Helan: rapper
- Ben Helan: writer and director
- Fred Helan: singer/songwriter
- Aretha Helan: former model
- David Helan: visual artist