Surname Hellen - Meaning and Origin
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Hellen: What does the surname Hellen mean?
The last name Hellen is a Greek surname derived from the ancient Greek word Hellená, meaning ‘Greek’. The term itself is an ancient term for the historical ethnic group known as the Greeks.
It is likely that the surname was acquired by the ancestors of those who possess the name today, when they moved to countries outside of the Greek mainland. Hellen was likely popular among many Greek expatriate families as a way to keep their Greek identity alive, even after leaving their homeland.
The Hellen name can be found in many Eastern and Western European nations, and even further afield. In the UK, Hellen is a particularly common surname in Scotland and England. In the United States, many Hellens can trace their ancestry back to a number of migrations by people of Greek descent during the 19th and 20th centuries.
People with the surname Hellen usually share a common heritage and connection to the history of the Greek people. To this day, modern Hellens are culturally proud and seek to preserve their connection to their ancient roots.
Order DNA origin analysisHellen: Where does the name Hellen come from?
The last name Hellen is most commonly found in Germany and Scandinavia today. According to a survey conducted by Forebears, the Hellen surname is the 9,763rd most commonly occurring name in the world, with slightly more men with the last name than women.
The last name is especially popular in Germany, with an estimated 1,602 people holding the name according to the same survey. In Sweden, Hellen is the 459th most common surname and in Denmark, it is the 694th most popular.
Out of Germany, Scandinavia, and the United States, the Hellen last name is more likely to originate from Scandinavia. The Hellen spelling is most commonly used in Germany, Denmark, and Sweden. However, outside of Scandinavia, the last name is often spelled slightly differently, such as Helsen, Helsen, Hillen, and Hellin.
In the United States, it is more likely that the last name Hellen originated from German immigrants from either Germany, Scandinavia, or other countries in Europe. The U.S. Census shows that there were 8,572 people holding the Hellen last name in the United States. The majority of people with the Hellen last name were found in the states of New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and California.
Variations of the surname Hellen
The Hellen surname is of German origin and has many variants, spellings, and other surnames that derive from it.
The most common variant is "Hellenbach," which is an amalgamation of the German words “hall” (meaning “bright”) and “enbach” (meaning “brook”). Variants of Hellenbach include Hellenbacher, Hellenburger, and Hellendinger.
The Hellin surname is derived from the German word “hollen” (meaning “to hollow”) and can be found in spellings such as Hellinger, Hellen, Hellins, and Hollin.
The surname Hellman is related to Hellen through the Low German word “hellmann” which means “light man" and can have various spellings, such as Hellmann, Hellmand, Hellmane, and Helman.
A similar but less common surname is Hellnahr, derived from the Middle High German word “hil(l)” (meaning “fertile hill”).
The English versions of the Hellen surname are sometimes spelled as Heman, Hayman, Heeman, Helman, Heilman, and Heylman.
The French version of the Hellen surname is usually spelled as Helly, Hely, Hanly, and Healy.
Finally, the Hebrew versions of Hellen are spelled as Heller, Heller, Hiller, and Heiler.
In conclusion, the Hellen surname has many variants, spellings, and other surnames of the same origin. Each variation has its own unique etymology and often changes based on the language in which it is spoken.
Famous people with the name Hellen
- Emma Hellen: theater and film actress known for her roles in "Us&Them" and "Transit"
- Mia Hellen: Swedish actress, known for her roles in shows such as "The Bridge" and "The Rain"
- Nicolai Hellen: Norwegian actor, best known for his role in the series "Valkyrien"
- Richard Hellen: English Commissioned Officer of the Royal Navy, notable for his services in wars against Napoleon and during the Battle of Trafalgar
- Jill Hellen: American Television Producer and Writer for "Game of Thrones" and "Better Things"
- Damian Hellen: Country music singer-songwriter from the Netherlands, who has released music with European labels
- Steve Hellen: American drummer and percussionist, active on the jazz and R&B scene since the 1990s
- Nick Hellen: British journalist, author, political correspondent, and commentator for the Sunday Times
- Kurtis Hellen: Professional snowboarder and former Olympian from Canada, participating in the 2006 Winter Olympics
- Kay Hellen: German artist and sculptor, specialized in creating unique sculptures made of stones