This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Help family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Help Family History

Help Surname Meaning

From Middle English help(e), hilp(e) (south-western) and hulp(e) (Old English help(e), hylp), the term means ‘help support’ and also refers to ‘one who helps others, a supporter’. This explanation is supported by the definite article in the 14th-century Kent example. However, the south-western surname could alternatively belong at (2).

Perhaps it comes from the rare early Middle English personal name Help(e) or *Hilp(e), which represents Continental Germanic *Hilpe, *Helpe, or Old English *Help, *Hylp. These names are pet forms of names in Help- meaning ‘aid, succour’.

There is also a possibility that it draws from Old Scandinavian Hjálpi, which originates from hjálp meaning ‘help’. This gives additional context to the origins of the name and its usage in different cultures.

The surname examples below may alternatively belong at (1), indicating a complex evolution and adaptation of the term through various languages and forms.

Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, 2016


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Help family from?

You can see how Help families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Help family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Help families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there was 1 Help family living in Saskatchewan. This was 100% of all the recorded Help's in Canada. Saskatchewan had the highest population of Help families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Help surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Help ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Help. 100% of Help women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Help | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

England shown, Canada data unavailable

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    100%

What Help family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Help. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Help census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Help

Passenger Lists

There are 104 immigration records available for the last name Help. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Help immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 17,000 military records available for the last name Help. For the veterans among your Help ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Help military records

You've only scratched the surface of Help family history

Discover More

What is the average Help lifespan?

Between 1966 and 2000, in the United States, Help life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1973, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Help in 1966 was 66, and 85 in 2000.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Help

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Help ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Help family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial