'unhelpfully' originates from the English prefix 'un-' meaning 'not' and the word 'helpful', which comes from the Old English 'helpan', meaning 'to assist'.

'unhelpful' evolved from the Old English 'helpan', which transformed into 'helpful' in Middle English, and eventually became 'unhelpful' with the addition of the prefix 'un-'.

Initially, 'helpan' meant 'to assist', and with the prefix 'un-', it evolved to mean 'not assisting'.