Surname Helmerich - Meaning and Origin

Helmerich: What does the surname Helmerich mean?

The last name Helmerich is a German surname meaning "army ruler." The name is derived from the German-language words "helme," meaning helmet, and "rich," meaning ruler. Thus, the literal translation is "army ruler" or "ruler of the helmet."

The name likely began as a descriptive nickname for someone who wore a helmet and held an important role in an army or medieval army. Over time, this name was soon adopted as an official family name.

When used as a surname, Helmerich is quite common in some areas of Germany, particularly in the regions of MittelFranken, OberPfalz, and lower Bavaria regions. Because of its popularity, it has also spread to other parts of Europe, including Sweden, Denmark, and the Netherlands.

In recent years, the last name Helmerich has become more common due to immigration from Germany. It is now found throughout the English-speaking world, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

In summary, the surname Helmerich is a German-originated name, derived from the German words "helme" meaning helmet, and "rich," meaning ruler. Its literal translation is "army ruler" or "ruler of the helmet," and was likely adopted as an official family name from a descriptive nickname. The last name is most common in Germany but is also increasingly found around the world due to immigration from Germany.

Helmerich: Where does the name Helmerich come from?

The last name Helmerich is quite commonly found in Central Europe, especially in Germany and Austria. The origins of the name can be traced back to the early 13th century to the region of Swabia, a region that straddles both countries. The name itself stems from a combination of two words: “helme”, meaning helmet and “rich”, meaning power. As such, it has been suggested that it may have started life as a nickname for someone of brave and/or powerful lineage.

This name is also known to have spread into areas such as the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary, especially throughout the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Today, outside of Central Europe, it has also been adopted by Dutch, Belgian and French families, although it remains most prevalent in Germany and Austria.

The last name is commonly seen amongst many high-profile people, most notably the German entrepreneur and philanthropist Hans-Joachim Helmerich who built the Helmerich & Payne Oil company into a multi-million dollar venture. His nephew, William Helmerich III, served as the chairman of the same company for over a decade before selling it in 2020. It is also used by US Olympic Bronze medalist Scott Helmerich as well as renowned Swiss figure skater Isabelle Helmerich.

Variations of the surname Helmerich

The surname Helmerich can have a number of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include: Helmer, Helmering, Helmers, Helmrich, Helmerichs, Helmrichs, Helmerick, Helmerings, Helmersch, Helmerschs, Helmreich, Helms, Helmsch, Helmschs and Helmsing.

Helmer is a common variant spelling of the German surname, Helmerich, which means "ruler of the army". This surname is derived from the Germanic personal name Helmold, composed of the elements helm "helmet" and wald "to rule". This surname is especially common in northern Germany, however, it is now found throughout Germany and Europe.

The German surname, Helmering, is derived from the Middle High German word, helmring, which meant "ring of the helmet". This surname represents an occupational name for someone who owned, made or sold rings associated with the helmet or armor worn by knights during medieval times. The surname, Helmers, is derived from the Old German personal name, Helmhard, which means "brave protector".

The surname, Helmrich, is derived from the Old German personal name, Helmric, which means "ruler of the army". This name is a combination of the element helm, meaning "helmet" and ric, meaning "powerful" or "ruler". This surname can also be found in various forms such as Helmerichs and Helmrichs.

The surname, Helmerick, is derived from the German word, helmrick, which means "a holder of a military authority". This surname is also found in various forms, such as Helmerings and Helmersch. The surname, Helms, is derived from the Middle High German word, helm, meaning "helmet". The surname, Helmsch, is derived from the Middle High German word, helmesch, which means "helmet-maker". The German surname, Helmsing, is derived from the Middle High German word, hilmesinc, which means "helmeted warrior".

Famous people with the name Helmerich

• Edward L. Helmerich III: American businessman and CEO of Helmerich & Payne, Inc.
• Russell Helmerich: Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
• Karl Helmerich: paleontologist and a specialist in micropaleontology who worked as a research scientist at the State Museum of Natural History in Stuttgart, Germany.
• Robert Helmerich: Former mayor of Tulsa, Oklahoma
• Moritz Helmerich: German physician and publicly appointed pathologist
• Arthur Helmerich: American businessman and founder and former Chairman of Helmerich & Payne, Inc.
• William Helmerich II: Businessman and former President and Chief Executive Officer of Helmerich & Payne, Inc.
• William "Bill" Helmerich III: American entrepreneur and businessman who currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Helmerich & Payne, Inc.
• Percy Helmerich: American civic leader and philanthropist in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
• Jim Helmerich: American attorney who served as Mayor of Tulsa, Oklahoma from 1981 to 1983.

Other surnames

HelmerichsHelmering