History of your Surname
Get access to Helston family records.Start a free trial

Helston Family History

Helston Name Meaning

from Helston in Wendron (Cornwall) or Helstone in Lanteglos by Camelford (Cornwall). The place-names derive from Middle Cornish *hen-lys ‘ancient court ancient ruin’ (from hen ‘ancient disused’ + *lys ‘court ruin’) with the addition of Middle English ton ‘town village farmstead’.

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


Similar surnames: Elston, Holston, Gelston, Helton, Heston, Heaston, Heuston, Hilton

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Helston family from?

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

What did your Helston ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer was the top reported job for people in the USA named Helston. 60% of Helston men worked as a Farmer. .

View Census Data for Helston | 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.

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Farmer
    60%
  • Owner
    40%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Helston family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search US census records for Helston

Passenger Lists

There are 164 immigration records available for the last name Helston. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Helston immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 72 military records available for the last name Helston. For the veterans among your Helston ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Helston military records

You've only scratched the surface of Helston family history

Discover More

What is the average Helston lifespan?

Between 1970 and 1996, in the United States, Helston life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1991, and highest in 1970. The average life expectancy for Helston in 1970 was 94, and 91 in 1996.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Helston

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Helston family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Helston last name

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