Other Hobbit Families

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An encyclopedia of Middle-earth in the Third Age

Other Hobbit Families
See also: Baggins, Brandybuck, Gamgee, and Took

Blanco

See Marcho & Blanco below.

Bob

Ostler at the Prancing Pony in Bree. As ostler, Bob's job was to take care of the horses and ponies stabled at the inn. Barliman Butterbur was Bob's employer. Bob was friends with another servant at the inn named Nob. Bob also owned a cat.

Bob was charged with caring for Merry Brandybuck's five ponies: Bumpkin, Sharp-ears, Swish-tail, White-socks, and Wise-nose. But during the night of September 29-30, 3018, the stables were raided and the ponies were released in an attempt to delay the Hobbits' departure. Bob searched the neighborhood for replacements, but was only able to find one scrawny pony owned by Bill Ferny. Barliman bought the pony, which Sam named Bill. Bob and Nob gave Sam apples as a parting gift.

When trouble came to Bree during the War of the Ring, Bob continued to work at the inn but he went home to his folks at nightfall.

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: "At the Sign of the Prancing Pony," p. 165, 172; "A Knife in the Dark," p.190-92
The Return of the King: "Homeward Bound," p. 270

Daisy Boffin

Cousin of Frodo Baggins. Daisy Baggins was the daughter of Frodo's uncle, Dudo Baggins. She was born in 2950. Daisy married Griffo Boffin. She and her husband attended the Farewell Party of Bilbo Baggins in 3001.

Etymology:
Daisy was named after a flower, as was common among Hobbit-lasses.

Source:
Appendix C of LotR: Baggins genealogy, p. 380

Donnamira Boffin

Aunt of Bilbo Baggins. Donnamira Took was the tenth child of Gerontius, the Old Took, and Adamanta Chubb Took. She was born in 2856. Donnamira had nine older siblings - Isengrim III, Hildigard, Isumbras IV, Hildigrim, Isembold, Hildifons, Isembard, Hildibrand, and Belladonna - and two younger siblings - Mirabella and Isengar. Her sister Belladonna was the mother of Bilbo.

Donnamira Took married Hugo Boffin. She died in 2948.

Source:
Appendix C of LotR: Took genealogy, p. 382

Folco Boffin

Friend of Frodo Baggins. In September of 3018, Folco Boffin came to stay at Bag End to help Frodo pack up his possessions and prepare to move to Crickhollow. On September 22, Folco attended Frodo's birthday dinner and farewell feast with Fatty Bolger, Merry Brandybuck, and Pippin Took. The next day, Folco went home after lunch. He was not present at Crickhollow on the eve of Frodo's departure from the Shire.

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: "The Shadow of the Past," p. 51; "Three Is Company," p. 76-77

Belba Bolger

Aunt of Bilbo Baggins. Belba Baggins was born in 2856. She was the daughter of Mungo Baggins and Laura Grubb Baggins. Her older brother Bungo was the father of Bilbo. Belba also had three younger siblings: Longo, Linda, and Bingo. Belba married Rudigar Bolger. She died in 2956.

Source:
Appendix C of LotR: Baggins genealogy, p. 380

Fredegar "Fatty" Bolger

Norman Cates as Fatty Bolger
from a Decipher Card designed by Weta

Friend of Frodo Baggins. Fredegar Bolger, called Fatty, was born in 2980 to Odovacar Bolger and Rosamunda Took Bolger. He had a sister Estella who married Merry Brandybuck. Fatty's great-great-grandfather on his mother's side was Gerontius, the Old Took, who was also the great-great-grandfather of Merry and of Pippin Took. Fatty's family was from Budgeford in Bridgefields in the Eastfarthing.

Fatty had no desire to leave the Shire, but he did his part to help his friend Frodo. Fatty came to stay at Bag End in September of 3018 to help Frodo pack up and move to Crickhollow. He was present at Frodo's final birthday feast at Bag End on September 22 and drove off with Merry with the last cart the next morning.

While Merry and Pippin set out with Frodo and Sam on their journey, Fatty stayed behind at Crickhollow to make it appear that Frodo was still living there. On September 30, the house at Crickhollow was attacked by Black Riders. When Fatty saw the shadowy figures approaching he fled out the back door and ran to the nearest house. He was terrified, but he managed to raise the alarm. The Horn-call of Buckland sounded and the Black Riders fled.

When the Shire was occupied by ruffians during the War of the Ring, Fatty led a band of rebels based in the Brockenbores by the Hills of Scary. Fatty was captured and thrown into the Lockholes. When Frodo and his companions released Fatty, he was too weak to walk and the nickname Fatty no longer applied.

Etymology:
Bolger contains a corruption of the element bulge and is meant to imply fatness or tubbiness.

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: "Three Is Company," p. 76-77; "A Conspiracy Unmasked," 118; "A Knife in the Dark," p. 188-89
The Return of the King: "The Grey Havens," p. 301
Appendix C of LotR: Took genealogy, p. 381
"Guide to the Names in The Lord of the Rings," p. 180

Rosamunda Bolger

Mother of Fatty Bolger and Estella Bolger Brandybuck. Rosamunda Took was born in 2938. She was the daughter of Sigismond Took. Rosamunda married Odovacar Bolger and they had two children: Fredegar (called Fatty) born in 2980, and Estella born in 2985. The family lived in Budgeford in Bridgefields in the Eastfarthing. Rosamunda and Odovacar attended the Farewell Party of Bilbo Baggins in 3001 along with their two children.

Source:
Appendix C of LotR: Took genealogy, p. 381

Salvia Bolger

Hobbit of the Shire. Salvia Brandybuck was born in 2826. She was the youngest child and only daughter of Sadoc Brandybuck. She had two older brothers whose names are not known. Salvia married Gundabald Bolger.

Etymology:
A salvia is a plant of the mint family.

Sources:
Appendix C of LotR: Brandybuck genealogy, p. 382

Hugo Bracegirdle

Book-loving Hobbit. Hugo Bracegirdle had a tendency to borrow books and not return them. When Bilbo Baggins left the Shire in 3001, he gave Hugo an empty bookcase to house his collection, which included several of Bilbo's own books.

Source:
The Fellowship of the Ring: "A Long-Expected Party," p. 46

Milo Burrows

Distant relation of Bilbo Baggins. Milo Burrows was born in 2947. His parents were Rufus Burrows and Asphodel Brandybuck Burrows. Milo married Peony Baggins, the great-granddaughter of Bilbo's great-uncle Ponto Baggins. Milo never responded to letters, so Bilbo gave him a farewell gift of a gold pen and ink bottle when he left the Shire in 3001.

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: "A Long-Expected Party," p. 46
Appendix C of LotR: Baggins genealogy, p. 380; Brandybuck genealogy, p. 382

Peony Burrows

Wife of Milo Burrows. Peony Baggins was born in 2950. She was the youngest child of Posco and Gilly Brownlock Baggins. She had two older brothers, Ponto and Porto. Peony Baggins married Milo Burrows and they had four children: Mosco, Moto, Myrtle, and Minto. Peony attended the Farewell Party of Bilbo Baggins with her husband on September 22, 3001.

Names & Etymology:
Peony had a flower name like many female Hobbits.

Sources:
Appendix C of LotR: Baggins genealogy, p. 380

Déagol

Thomas Robins as Deagol
in the New Line film

Finder of the One Ring. Deagol was of Hobbit-kind. His people were descended from the Stoors who had migrated from Eriador and settled on the shores of the Anduin at the edge of Wilderland.

One day in the year 2463, Deagol and his friend Smeagol went fishing near the Gladden Fields. Deagol caught a large fish on his line and was dragged out of the boat to the bottom of the river, where he saw something shiny in the riverbed. Deagol let go of his line and dived for the object, which turned out to be a gold ring. Although Deagol did not know it, the ring was the One Ring wrought by the Dark Lord Sauron, and it had lain at the bottom of the Anduin since the year 2 when Isildur was slain at the Gladden Fields.

Deagol brought the Ring ashore and gloated over it, but Smeagol saw the Ring and coveted it and he asked Deagol to give it to him as a birthday present. Deagol refused, saying that he had already given Smeagol more than he could afford. Smeagol then strangled Deagol and hid his body and took the Ring for himself. Deagol's family never knew what had become of him.

Other Names:
Deagol's name was Nahald in the language of the upper Anduin where his people lived.

Etymology:
Déagol is an anglicized equivalent of the name Nahald. Both names mean "secret."

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: "The Shadow of the Past," p. 62
Appendix F of LotR: Part I - "The Languages and Peoples of the Third Age," p. 408, note 1; Part II - "On Translation," p. 414-15
Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien: Letter #214 (information on Deagol's Stoor ancestry)

Togo Goodbody

Great-uncle of Bilbo Baggins. Togo Goodbody married Lily Baggins, the aunt of Bilbo's father Bungo Baggins. From Togo and Lily were descended various Goodbodies.

Source:
Appendix C of LotR: Baggins genealogy, p. 380

Hob Hayward

Guard of Buckland. Hob Hayward was an old Hobbit at the time of the War of the Ring. He was originally a guard at the Hay Gate, where the High Hay met the Great East Road. But after the Chief's Men took over the Shire, he became a guard at the new spiked gates erected on the Brandywine Bridge. He was on duty the night of October 30, 3019, when Frodo Baggins and his companions returned to the Shire. Hob recognized Merry Brandybuck and expressed surprise that he was still alive. Hob and his fellow guards were reluctant to open the gate because it was against orders to admit anyone after nightfall. Merry and Pippin climbed the gate and ousted Bill Ferny, the Chief's Big Man. Hob started to tell the four Hobbit adventurers what had been happening in the Shire during their absence, and when the other guards tried to stop him he accused some of them of being informants for the Chief's Men.

Etymology:
The name Hayward reflects Hob's duties as a guard at the High Hay. The word hay means "fence, hedge" and the word ward means "warden, guard."

Sources:
The Return of the King: "The Scouring of the Shire," p. 277-79
"Guide to the Names in The Lord of the Rings," p. 168

Tobold Hornblower

The first cultivator of pipe-weed. Tobold Hornblower lived in Longbottomin the Southfarthing during the time of Thain Isengrim II. Tobold was knowledgeable about herbs. Around 2670, he began cultivating pipe-weed in his gardens. Tobold never revealed how he came by the pipe-weed plant. In his book Herblore of the Shire, Merry Brandybuck speculated that Tobold may have acquired specimens of the plant in Bree, where he often traveled in his youth.

Tobold was nicknamed Old Toby, and one of the finest varieties of pipe-weed bore the same name.

Source:
The Fellowship of the Ring: "Prologue: Concerning Pipe-weed," p. 17

Farmer Maggot

Farmer famed for his mushrooms. Maggot's farm was Bamfurlong in the Marish between the Woody End and the Brandywine River. In addition to mushrooms, Maggot also grew turnips. His fields were well-tended and were divided by well-laid hedges. Maggot had a large brick house with a thatched roof. The house and farm buildings were surrounded by a wall with a wooden gate.

Farmer Maggot was broad and thick-set with a round red face. He had a wife - known only as Mrs. Maggot - and they had three daughters and more than two sons. Maggot also employed several Hobbits on his farm.

Maggot was very shrewd and knowledgeable about things both within the Shire and without. He ventured into the Old Forest at times and met with Tom Bombadil, who regarded Maggot as an important person.

"There's earth under his old feet, and clay on his fingers; wisdom in his bones, and both his eyes are open," said Tom.
The Fellowship of the Ring: "In the House of Tom Bombadil," p. 143

Farmer Maggot was friendly with the Brandybucks and knew Peregrin Took, but living as he did near the border he was suspicious of strangers. He had once run young Frodo Baggins off his land for stealing mushrooms, and threatened to set his dogs on him if he ever returned. But when Frodo met Farmer Maggot again on September 25, 3018, as he passed through the farmer's fields on the way to Crickhollow, Maggot welcomed Frodo into his home. Earlier that day, a Black Rider had come to Maggot's farm and offered the farmer gold in exchange for news of Baggins, but Farmer Maggot sent him on his way. Maggot guessed that Frodo's trouble had something to do with Bilbo's treasure but he did not press Frodo for details and promised to deal with the Black Riders if they returned.

After supper, Frodo and his companions were driven to the Bucklebury Ferry in Farmer Maggot's cart. Maggot sent Frodo on his way with a gift of mushrooms courtesy of Mrs. Maggot.

Etymology:
Maggot was intended to be a "meaningless" Hobbit name and was not intentionally related to the word meaning "grub, larva."

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: "A Short Cut to Mushrooms," p. 100-7; "In the House of Tom Bombadil," p. 143
"Guide to the Names in The Lord of the Rings," p. 169

Top: Cameron Rhodes as Farmer Maggot
in the New Line film
Bottom: Farmer & Mrs. Maggot
by the Brothers Hildebrandt

Farmer Maggot - movie

Farmer & Mrs Maggot

Mrs. Maggot

Wife of Farmer Maggot. Mrs. Maggot lived with her husband at Bamfurlong, their farm in the Marish. They had three daughters and more than two sons. When Frodo Baggins arrived at the farm on September 25, 3018, she prepared a meal of good farmhouse fare, including a dish of mushroomsand bacon. Later she gave Farmer Maggot a basket of mushrooms to give to Frodo with her compliments. Mrs. Maggot was concerned for her husband's well being when he took the Hobbits to the Bucklebury Ferry that evening and he hurried home to her.

Source:
The Fellowship of the Ring: "A Short Cut to Mushrooms," p. 105-7

Marcho & Blanco

Hobbits who founded the Shire. Marcho and Blanco were brothers. They were of the kind of Hobbits called Fallohides. Marcho and Blanco originally lived in Bree, where both Men and Hobbits dwelled. In 1601, Marcho and Blanco obtained permission from King Argeleb II to settle the land west of the Brandywine River. The brothers led a large group of Hobbits across the Bridge of Stonebows and claimed all the land between the river and the Far Downs. This land was named the Shire, and it became the homeland of the Hobbits in Middle-earth.

Source:
The Fellowship of the Ring: "Prologue: Concerning Hobbits," p. 13

Old Noakes

Hobbit of Bywater. Old Noakes frequented the inn called the Ivy Bush. One evening before Bilbo and Frodo Baggins'birthday party in September of 3001, Old Noakes was at the Ivy Bush along with Gaffer Gamgee, Daddy Twofoot, and Sandyman the Miller. Old Noakes was a bit suspicious of Frodo because his mother was a Brandybuck. He commented, "It beats me why any Baggins of Hobbiton should go looking for a wife away there in Buckland, where folks are so queer." (FotR, p. 30) He also reported a rumor he had heard that Frodo's parents drowned because Drogo Baggins' weight sank their boat.

Etymology:
The name Noakes is from the early English atten oke meaning "at the oak."

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: "A Long-Expected Party," p. 30-31
"Guide to the Names in The Lord of the Rings," p. 170

William Johnson as Old Noakes
in the New Line film

Nob

Servant at the Prancing Pony. Nob's full name is not known. Nob's duties at the inn included serving food and tending to the needs of guests. His employer, Barliman Butterbur, called Nob a "woolly-footed slowcoach" and a "woolly-pated ninny," but Nob was cheerful and willing. It was Nob who found Merry Brandybuck unconscious near Bill Ferny's house and shouted out before two dark figures could carry Merry away. Nob also made up the Hobbits' beds with bolsters to resemble sleeping figures, complete with a brown mat to represent Frodo's head. Nob took part in keeping watch on the inn's doors, but the inn was attacked nevertheless. Nob and his co-worker Bob gave Sam a bag of apples as a parting gift. When the four Hobbits returned to Bree in October of 3019, they found Nob still working at the Prancing Pony.

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: "At the Sign of the Prancing Pony," 165-66; "Strider," p. 178, 181, 185-87; "A Knife in the Dark," p. 191-92
The Return of the King: "Homeward Bound," p. 269-70

Odo Proudfoot

Cousin of Bilbo Baggins. Odo Proudfoot was born in 2904. His parents were Bodo Proudfoot and Linda Baggins Proudfoot – aunt of Bilbo. He had a son named Olo. Odo Proudfoot had exceptionally large and hairy feet.

Odo Proudfoot was a guest at Bilbo’s Farewell Party on September 22, 3001. He became annoyed when Bilbo used the incorrect plural of his family name: Proudfoots instead of the correct Proudfeet. When Bilbo disappeared using his magic Ring, Odo took his feet off the table and stamped on the ground.

Odo Proudfoot died in 3005.

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: "A Long-Expected Party," p. 37, 39
Appendix C of LotR: Baggins genealogy, p. 380

Noah Appleby as Mr. Proudfoot
in the New Line film

Sancho Proudfoot

Hobbit of the Shire. Sancho Proudfoot was born in 2990. He was the son of Olo Proudfoot and the grandson of Odo Proudfoot. After Bilbo Baggins' Farewell Party in 3001, young Sancho snuck into Bag End in search of treasure. He thought he heard an echo indicating a hiding place in the pantry and began to excavate, but he was discovered by Frodo Baggins who threw him out.

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: "A Long-Expected Party," p. 48
Appendix C of LotR: Baggins genealogy, p. 380

Widow Rumble

Widow Rumble looked after Hamfast Gamgee after the War of the Ring when his son Sam moved from Bagshot Row to Bag End.

Source:
The Return of the King: "The Grey Havens," p. 304

Sandyman the Miller

Miller in Hobbiton. Mr. Sandyman owned the Old Mill. He was the father of Ted Sandyman. His first name is not known.

One evening in September of 3001, Mr. Sandyman was at the Ivy Bush listening to Gaffer Gamgee talk about his employer Bilbo Baggins, who was about to throw a magnificent birthday party with his heir Frodo Baggins. Mr. Sandyman said that he had heard that Frodo's parents had drowned because Primula Baggins had pushed her husband Drogo out of their boat and Drogo had pulled his wife in after him. Sandyman also commented on Bilbo's reputed wealth and his dealings with strangers, saying: "Bag End's a queer place, and its folk are queerer." (FotR, p. 32) The Gaffer dismissed the Miller's remarks; he did not like Mr. Sandyman very much.

In the fall of 3018, Lotho Sackville-Baggins bought the Old Mill and tore it down to replace it with a new building. Mr. Sandyman's son Ted continued to work at the New Mill for the Chief's Men.

Other Names:
Also called Sandyman the Miller.

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: "A Long-Expected Party," p. 30-32; "The Shadow of the Past," p. 53
The Return of the King: "The Scouring of the Shire," p. 291-92

Ted Sandyman

Brian Sergent as Ted Sandyman
in the New Line film

Hobbit allied with the Chief's Men during the War of the Ring. Ted Sandyman was the son of Sandyman the Miller of Hobbiton.

One evening in early April of 3018, Ted Sandyman was at the Green Dragon with Sam Gamgee, the gardener at Bag End. Sam talked about strange things that had been happening in the Shire, including a Tree-man that his cousin Hal claimed to have seen walking on the North Moors. Ted Sandyman scoffed at Sam's tales, calling them children's stories. Neither was Ted interested in the news that the Elves were leaving Middle-earth. He questioned the reliability of Sam's sources of information - Bilbo and Frodo Baggins - saying: "Oh, they're both cracked. Leastways old Bilbo was cracked, and Frodo's cracking." (FotR, p. 54)

After Frodo and Sam left the Shire in September of 3018, Lotho Sackville-Baggins bought the Old Mill and tore it down. He replaced it with an ugly brick building that straddled the river and was full of wheels and strange contraptions to increase production. The next year in September of 3019, Saruman took over operation of the Mill and it was used for some industrial purpose that created noise and pollution.

Ted Sandyman was pleased by these developments and he continued to work in the New Mill. He took orders from the Chief's Men and he participated in the wanton destruction of the Shire by cutting down the trees beyond the Mill that shaded the road to Bywater.

After the Battle of Bywater on November 3, 3019, Frodo and Sam returned to Hobbiton with Merry Brandybuck and Pippin Took. They encountered Ted Sandyman at the New Mill. Ted laughed at their dismay at the destruction that had been done to Hobbiton, and he said that if they touched him he would report them to the Chief. When Merry told him that the Chief's Men had been defeated and that the Chief was about to be removed, Ted was shocked. He sounded a horn to raise the alarm, but Merry responded by sounding the Horn of the Mark, and Hobbits from all over Hobbiton responded.

The New Mill was subsequently torn down. It is not known what became of Ted Sandyman.

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: "The Shadow of the Past," p. 53-54; "The Bridge of Khazad-dum," p. 339, "The Mirror of Galadriel," p. 378
The Return of the King: "The Scouring of the Shire," p. 291-92, 296-97

Robin Smallburrow

Shirriff in the Shire. Robin Smallburrow was from Hobbiton. He became a Shirriff around 3012. He enjoyed roaming the countryside and talking to people and hearing news. He was also fond of visiting the various inns of the Shire and sampling their beer.

When the Shire was occupied by ruffians during the War of the Ring, Robin Smallburrow was assigned to the First Eastfarthing Troop and he was quartered in the Shirriff-house at Frogmorton. He was not allowed to resign from his post and had to enforce a number of harsh and unfair rules that were imposed on Hobbits by the Chief's Men.

On November 1, 3019, Frodo Baggins and his companions returned to the Shire and were arrested by the First Eastfarthing Troop at Frogmorton. Sam Gamgee recognized Robin Smallburrow and asked him to explain what was going on. Robin told Sam about the expansion of the Shirriff force under the Chief's Men and the arrest of Mayor Will Whitfoot and others. He also told Sam that a message had arrived by Quick Post saying that Frodo and his friends were to be brought before the Chief.

The next day the Shirriffs began to escort their prisoners to Bywater but the four Hobbit adventurers soon outpaced them. When the Shirriffs finally caught up to them at the Green Dragon they found that their prisoners had rallied the Hobbits to defy the Chief and his Men. Most of the Shirriffs joined the rebellion, and although it is not stated, it seems likely that Robin Smallburrow was one of them. The Hobbits defeated the Men at the Battle of Bywater on November 3.

Other Names:
Also called Cock-robin by Sam.

Sources:
The Return of the King: "The Scouring of the Shire," p. 280-83, 288

Sméagol

See the full-page entry for Smeagol / Gollum.

Daddy Twofoot

Neighbor of Gaffer Gamgee. Daddy Twofoot lived at Number 2 Bagshot Row. In September of 3001, just before Bilbo Baggins' 111th birthday party, Daddy Twofoot was at the Ivy Bush with Gaffer Gamgee. The Hobbits were discussing Frodo Baggins, whose mother was a Brandybuck from Buckland, and Daddy Twofoot said that folks from the other side of the Brandywine were queer because they lived near the Old Forest.

Source:
The Fellowship of the Ring: "A Long-Expected Party," p. 30

Will Whitfoot

Mayor of Michel Delving. As Mayor, Will Whitfoot was the Postmaster of the Messenger Service and the First Shirriff of the Watch. Otherwise, his main duty was to attend official banquets on holidays. Will apparently enjoyed this part of his job, for at one time he was the fattest Hobbit in the Westfarthing. He was known as Flourdumpling because when the roof of the Town Hole collapsed, he emerged covered in chalk and looking like a flour dumpling.

Will Whitfoot was Mayor at the time of the War of the Ring. When Lotho Sackville-Baggins and his ruffians started cutting down trees and taking crops and goods from the Shire, Will Whitfoot went to Bag End to protest. But before he got there, Will was arrrested by Lotho's Men and imprisoned in the Lockholes. Lotho then named himself Chief of the Shire. Will was released along with the other prisoners by Frodo Baggins on November 4, 3019. Will had lost a good deal of weight and was not fit to serve as Mayor. Frodo acted as Deputy Mayor until Mid-year's Day in 3020 and Will Whitfoot returned to the office of Mayor for another seven years. Will Whitfoot resigned as Mayor in the year 6 of the Fourth Age and Sam Gamgee was elected to replace him.

Etymology:
The element whit is derived from white.

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: "At the Sign of the Prancing Pony," p. 168
The Return of the King: "The Scouring of the Shire," p. 281, 292; "The Grey Havens," p. 301, 305
Appendix B of LotR: "The Tale of Years," p. 377
"Guide to the Names in The Lord of the Rings," p. 175