NameCensus.

UK surname

Helme

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "sheltered valley" or "refuge".

In the 1881 census there were 491 people recorded with the Helme surname, ranking it #6,865 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 626, ranked #8,424, down from #6,865 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lancaster Borough, Manchester and Preston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lancaster, Wyre and Herefordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Helme is 709 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 27.5%.

1881 census count

491

Ranked #6,865

Modern count

626

2016, ranked #8,424

Peak year

1911

709 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Helme had 491 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,865 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 626 in 2016, ranked #8,424.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 709 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Helme surname distribution map

The map shows where the Helme surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Helme surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Helme over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 311 #7,413
1861 historical 298 #8,485
1881 historical 491 #6,865
1891 historical 515 #7,249
1901 historical 651 #6,636
1911 historical 709 #6,014
1997 modern 669 #7,504
1998 modern 674 #7,699
1999 modern 688 #7,618
2000 modern 691 #7,557
2001 modern 665 #7,662
2002 modern 674 #7,736
2003 modern 691 #7,457
2004 modern 678 #7,601
2005 modern 644 #7,827
2006 modern 654 #7,766
2007 modern 633 #8,038
2008 modern 648 #7,930
2009 modern 654 #8,030
2010 modern 666 #8,091
2011 modern 661 #8,051
2012 modern 629 #8,285
2013 modern 654 #8,182
2014 modern 647 #8,289
2015 modern 629 #8,406
2016 modern 626 #8,424

Geography

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Where Helmes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lancaster Borough, Manchester, Preston, Dalton-in-Furness and Blackburn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lancaster, Wyre and Herefordshire. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Lancaster Borough Lancashire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Preston Lancashire
4 Dalton-in-Furness Lancashire
5 Blackburn Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lancaster 006 Lancaster
2 Lancaster 020 Lancaster
3 Wyre 007 Wyre
4 Lancaster 010 Lancaster
5 Herefordshire 021 Herefordshire, County of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Helme

These lists show first names that appear often with the Helme surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Helme

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Helme, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Helme surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Helme household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Helme is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Helme is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Helme falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Helme is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Helme, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Helme

The surname Helme has its origins in England and dates back to the late medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "helm," which referred to a helmet or a covering for the head. This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a nickname to someone who wore a distinctive helmet or had a head of distinctive shape or appearance.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Helme can be found in the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379, where a person named Johannes Helme is listed. This historical record provides evidence of the surname's existence and usage during the late 14th century in the northern English county of Yorkshire.

The Helme surname is also associated with various place names, such as Helme in West Yorkshire and Helme Edge in Derbyshire. These place names likely originated from the Old English word "helm," which could have been used to describe a distinctive topographical feature or landmark resembling a helmet or a covering.

In the 16th century, the Helme surname appeared in the records of the Visitation of Yorkshire in 1585, where a family with this name is documented. This suggests that the Helme family had established itself as a prominent lineage in the region by that time.

One notable individual with the surname Helme was Sir Thomas Helme (c. 1470-1539), who served as the Lord Mayor of York in 1516 and was a prominent figure in the city's political and civic affairs during the early 16th century.

Another historically significant individual with the Helme surname was John Helme (1677-1736), an English clergyman and author who wrote several theological works, including "The Christian's Manual" and "The Christian's Instructor."

In the 18th century, William Helme (1739-1800) was a notable English architect and surveyor who worked on various projects in Yorkshire, including the design of several churches and public buildings.

The Helme surname has also been associated with the literary world, with authors such as John Helme (1827-1897), an English poet and writer who published several volumes of poetry and prose works.

Lastly, in the 20th century, Sir John Helme (1907-1998) was a prominent English lawyer and judge who served as a Lord Justice of Appeal in the Court of Appeal of England and Wales.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Helme families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Helme surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 334 Helmes recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.86x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 334 5.86x
Yorkshire 35 0.74x
Kirkcudbrightshire 25 35.99x
Herefordshire 19 9.66x
Surrey 15 0.64x
Cumberland 9 2.18x
Wigtownshire 9 14.12x
Sussex 8 0.99x
Essex 6 0.63x
Leicestershire 5 0.94x
Middlesex 5 0.10x
Westmorland 4 3.79x
Lincolnshire 3 0.39x
Wiltshire 3 0.71x
Cheshire 2 0.19x
Devon 2 0.20x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.31x
Anglesey 1 1.18x
Durham 1 0.07x
Kent 1 0.06x
Northumberland 1 0.14x
Renfrewshire 1 0.27x
Somerset 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Preston in Lancashire leads with 65 Helmes recorded in 1881 and an index of 42.66x.

Place Total Index
Preston 65 42.66x
Lancaster 40 118.06x
Urr 19 210.18x
Halliwell 18 86.83x
Great Bolton 17 22.54x
Blackburn 16 10.56x
Little Bolton 16 21.85x
Barrow In Furness 14 18.08x
Bury 10 15.37x
Clevely 10 12500.00x
Weobley 10 689.66x
Kirkinner 9 342.21x
Hipperholme Cum 8 38.28x
Standish With Langtree 8 114.12x
Whicham 8 1290.32x
Brighton 7 4.29x
Skerton 7 149.57x
Stretford 7 22.34x
Wakefield 7 19.17x
Arkholme With Cawood 6 1224.49x
Bedford 6 50.38x
Blackrod 6 84.75x
Breightmet 6 239.04x
Great Driffield 6 61.48x
Manchester 6 2.34x
Newington 6 3.38x
Sharples 6 97.09x
Chorlton On Medlock 5 5.53x
Girthon 5 213.68x
Huddersfield 5 7.22x
Keyham 5 1041.67x
Poulton Barre 5 77.16x
Cobham 4 104.17x
Harpurhey 4 50.63x
Leyton 4 24.51x
Openshaw 4 15.00x
Turton 4 42.92x
Wortley In Bramley 4 10.62x
Yealand Conyers 4 784.31x
Bishopstrow 3 750.00x
Bodenham 3 206.90x
Burton 3 270.27x
Carnforth 3 95.85x
Eardisland 3 234.38x
Little Bookham 3 937.50x
Moston 3 52.54x
Much Dewchurch 3 322.58x
Scotforth 3 81.08x
St Martin In Fields 3 10.44x
Thornley Cum Wheatley 3 526.32x
Beeford 2 170.94x
Dalton In Furness 2 9.10x
Ellel 2 68.03x
Godalming 2 13.59x
Heap 2 6.62x
Highweek 2 56.18x
Hornchurch 2 43.10x
Islington London 2 0.43x
Lower Holker 2 183.49x
Lytham 2 23.02x
Myerscough 2 317.46x
Newark Upon Trent 2 8.60x
Radcliffe 2 7.29x
Sheffield 2 1.32x
St Nicholas Lincoln 2 27.25x
Cabus 1 344.83x
Chester St Michael 1 80.00x
East Broughton 1 61.73x
Halton 1 83.33x
Hulme 1 0.84x
Hurstpierpoint 1 22.22x
Nateby 1 153.85x
Over Darwen 1 2.20x
Rusholme 1 6.58x
St Mary Cray 1 31.95x
Troqueer 1 10.98x
Ulverston 1 6.03x
Winmarleigh 1 158.73x
Workington 1 4.23x
Worsley 1 2.85x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Helme surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 32
Elizabeth 23
Sarah 13
Ann 12
Margaret 11
Alice 10
Hannah 10
Jane 8
Emma 6
Catherine 5
Ellen 5
Isabella 5
Charlotte 4
Agnes 3
Anne 3
Annie 3
Eliza 3
Martha 3
Ada 2
Betty 2
Bridget 2
Edith 2
Eliz. 2
Esther 2
Harriet 2
Helen 2
Kate 2
Levinia 2
Lilly 2
Lily 2
Louisa 2
Maria 2
Nancy 2
Sophia 2
Annetta 1
Berkin 1
Bertha 1
Betsy 1
Dora 1
Dorathy 1
Elenor 1
Elis. 1
Elizth. 1
Elizth.Alice 1
Frances 1
Georgina 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Hester 1
Walbeirge 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Helme surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 29
Thomas 29
William 24
James 22
Henry 12
Joseph 8
Robert 8
Edward 7
George 7
Richard 7
Albert 4
Harold 4
Charles 3
Ernest 3
Walter 3
Aaron 2
Arthur 2
David 2
Frank 2
Herbert 2
Matthew 2
Samuel 2
Thos. 2
Burchall 1
Dacre 1
Eli 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Gustave 1
Jacob 1
Jas. 1
Joe 1
Jonathon 1
Jos. 1
Joshua 1
Louis 1
Mary 1
Moses 1
Norval 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
Rd. 1
Richardson 1
Richd.W. 1
Robt.Wm. 1
Roger 1
Seth 1
Timothy 1
Wm.John 1

FAQ

Helme surname: questions and answers

How common was the Helme surname in 1881?

In 1881, 491 people were recorded with the Helme surname. That placed it at #6,865 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Helme surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 626 in 2016. That gives Helme a modern rank of #8,424.

What does the Helme surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "sheltered valley" or "refuge".

What does the Helme map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Helme bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.