Surname Helmerichs - Meaning and Origin

Helmerichs: What does the surname Helmerichs mean?

The last name Helmerichs is a German patronymic surname derived from the personal name Helm or Helmric, which means “helmet” or “protection” in Old German. The surname can also appear as Helmrichs, Helmers, and Helmering.

Originally, the surname referred to a person who wore a helmet in protection, likely in battle or some other form of physical combat. It could also refer to an armor-maker, since a helmet was a key part of battle attire. Over time, the meaning of the name shifted to regard a person with a protective or significant role, likely in leadership positions and important roles such as government officials.

People with the surname Helmerichs today may have a family history with ties to Germany, even if their family moved to another country or continent. Family crests and coats of arms are common practice among those with German lineage, though the Helmerichs family crest has yet to be identified.

In addition to its German origin, the surname has spread and diversified among English, Dutch, and Danish cultures. And there are many notable people with the name. For example, Hans Helmerichs (1475–1545) was a German geographer and theologian, as well as a Mayor of Frankfurt; Warren Helmerichs (1888–1954) was an American football player; and robotics pioneer Hans Helmerichs (1935–2017) was a German-American robotics engineer.

Helmerichs: Where does the name Helmerichs come from?

The surname Helmerichs is a Germanic surname of very old origin and is still common in Germany and other Germanic countries today. It is most particularly found in North-Rhine Westphalia and Lower Saxony in Germany. It is also found in other countries with German populations including the US, Canada, Australia, Brazil and Argentina, as well as across Europe.

The name is thought to derive from Helmerich, the first recorded holder of the name, who is said to have lived in the 12th century. It is believed to come from either the Old German name Helmrich, meaning ‘helmet brave’, or the term heilmer (‘hail Mary’), with added suffixes ichs and -s added.

The name is common in parts of the US, especially North and South Dakota, perhaps due to a relatively high historical number of Germans in the area. Indeed, the majority of German immigration to the US took place in the latter part of the 19th century, with many Helmerichs settlings in various states and regions.

The surname has also gained popularity in countries with large German expatriate populations, such as in Australia. The name is said to also have a presence in the west and south of England, however records are not widely documented.

In modern-day, records suggest that Helmerichs is most popular in Germany, North and South Dakota in the US, as well as Brazil, Canada and Australia. As with most surnames of Germanic origin, the prevalence of Helmerichs may have been much higher before the middle of the 20th century, however there are still many Helmerichs families extant today.

Variations of the surname Helmerichs

The surname Helmerichs is a Germanic name originating from the Old High German word helm-rich (literally “helmet-rich”). Variants of the surname exist in both Germany and the United States. In Germany, the most common spelling of the surname is Helmerichs; however, other German spellings such as Helmerich, Helmers, Helmrich, Helmrichs, and Helmersen may also be found.

In the United States, where the family of German descent has lived since around the middle of the 19th century, a number of variant spellings and other surnames of the same origin exist. The most common variant spelling in the United States is one that dropped the final “s” from the end, so Helmerich is the most common spelling in the United States. Other surnames of the same origin in the United States include Helmering and Helming.

Similar names of foreign origin can be found in other countries, including Holland, England, Scotland, and Ireland. For example, the name Helmrichs exists in Holland, and Helmering or Helming exists in England and Scotland as a variant of the Old English helmar, which means “armour” or “shield”. In Ireland, the name Helmsley may be an Anglicized version of the Old Irish Hael aston.

Apart from the above mentioned Germanic spellings of the same origin, the surname Helmerichs may also appear under different last names such as Helms, Helm, Helmsley, Helmle, Helmli, Helmericks, Helminck, Helmsen, and Helmholz.

Famous people with the name Helmerichs

• Hans Helmerichs: A former German athlete who won a silver medal in the high jump at the 1988 Olympics and was the bronze medalist for the same event at the 1986 European Championships.
• Max Helmerichs: An American entrepreneur who is the former CEO and Chairman of the Board of Helmerich & Payne, Inc., an international oilfield services company founded by his grandfather in 1920.
• Ray Helmerichs: An American cyclist and former professional world bicycle racer. He is best known for his nine-time title wins in the World Bicycle Racing Championship as well as multiple national titles.
• Robert Helmerichs: An American biochemist who has also made significant contributions to the field of genetics. Helmerichs is the author of numerous scientific papers and holds numerous patents related to biochemistry and genetic engineering.
• John Helmerichs: An American civil engineer who held numerous positions in the United States Army Corps of Engineers, including stints as commander of the Middle East Division of the Corps, project superintendent for the Manhattan Project, and most recently Director of the Civil Works Program.
• Susanna Helmerichs: An American actress who rose to fame in the late 1990s with her lead role in the US drama series Northern Exposure. She is also known for her appearances in films such as G.I. Jane, 10 Things I Hate About You, and The Messengers.
• Tim Helmerichs: An American writer and producer best known for the novel The Art of Healing, which won the 2005 Goldberg Prize for Fiction, and for the feature films Everyday Heroes and The Dog Walker, both of which he wrote and produced.

Other surnames

HelmerichHelmering