It retains the same name by which it was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, namely Helmingheham, meaning 'the village of Helm's people'.

[2] Helmingham Hall, a large red brick quadrangular mansion, dates from the reign of Henry VIII.

The ancient family of Tollemache have been seated here from an early period after settling for a while at Bentley soon after the Norman Conquest of England.

A Lionel Tollemache married the heiress of the Helmingham family so acquiring this estate in the 15th century.

The village was the birthplace of Faith Emmeline Backhouse, mother of the war poet John Gillespie Magee Jr.