Later the main branch of the family emigrated to America and even today they are successor members of this German dynasty.

Currently the German-Argentinean Ernst Heinrich von Helfenstein have the honorary title by inheritance of Baron and Count by subsequent to his Father.

[1] A more fanciful source claims that the elephant comes from the first ancestor of the family, Helfrich, a citizen of Rome in 225 AD, a captain of the 5th Legion of Veterans based in Germany and the Lord of the Fils River.

The city of Geislingen an der Steige grew up at the foot of the castle as a toll collection station and rest stop for travellers.

[4] Around 1200 Count Ludwig IV of Spitzenberg (near Kuchen) and Sigmaringen married the heir of Eberhard II (known as the Younger) of Helfenstein, his daughter.

The Counts of Spitzenberg were closely allied with the Holy Roman Emperor and had served the Empire in a variety of positions.

He quickly expanded his county, adding numerous holdings in the upper and middle Fils River Valley, on the highlands of the Swabian Alb, in Ulm, in Heidenheim an der Brenz as well as in the Danube River Valley near Sigmaringen and Schloss Sigmaringen.

The Wiesensteiger branch inherited the county of Geislingen with Burg Helfenstein, but pledged the entire holding to the Free Imperial City of Ulm in 1382 for a loan.

During the American Revolution Philip Helveston with family fought as notable rebel's and were routed and driven away in the battle of Ebenezer Georgia by British regulars.