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06-10-2004, 05:31 PM

Ah, the Barrow-Downs. It's been too long since I last visited this board.

This isn't directly related to the topic, but is related to names nevertheless.

What about surnames in Tolkien's books? Does Tolkien mention family names for, say, gondorian people anywhere? It seems that only "lesser folk", like men of Bree and hobbits have family names, whereas the high ones are [first name] son of [first name], like Denethor son of Ecthelion and such. This seems perfectly logical for the royal families, and perhaps all of the elves as well, since they are completely different from mortal races, and "higher" as well. But in real world, even royal families have family, they just aren't used. I suppose an ordinary man of Gondor may well have had a family as well, but we only know a couple of those.

A couple of dwarves with surnames are mentioned - at least Dain II Ironfoot and Thorin Oakenshield. These aren't really family names, though, for at least Thorin's name did not come from his father, he took it after the Battle of Nanduhirion. I can't remember where Ironfoot comes from, but it probably has a similar meaning. Legolas Greenleaf, an elf, also has a surname, Westron translation of his elvish name. Beleg Strongbow got his surname from his unmatched skill with bow, I suppose. And then there are hundreds of names like Atanatar the Glorious (Atanatar Alcarin).

So, there are hundreds of surnames, and many of the lesser folk have family names, but has Tolkien ever mentioned elves or men of Gondor, Rohan, Arnor etc. as having family name systems? Tolkien carefully designed every part of his world, and I believe there is something written about this as well.

06-10-2004, 05:31 PM	#44
Aasitus Guest Posts: n/a	Ah, the Barrow-Downs. It's been too long since I last visited this board. This isn't directly related to the topic, but is related to names nevertheless. What about surnames in Tolkien's books? Does Tolkien mention family names for, say, gondorian people anywhere? It seems that only "lesser folk", like men of Bree and hobbits have family names, whereas the high ones are [first name] son of [first name], like Denethor son of Ecthelion and such. This seems perfectly logical for the royal families, and perhaps all of the elves as well, since they are completely different from mortal races, and "higher" as well. But in real world, even royal families have family, they just aren't used. I suppose an ordinary man of Gondor may well have had a family as well, but we only know a couple of those. A couple of dwarves with surnames are mentioned - at least Dain II Ironfoot and Thorin Oakenshield. These aren't really family names, though, for at least Thorin's name did not come from his father, he took it after the Battle of Nanduhirion. I can't remember where Ironfoot comes from, but it probably has a similar meaning. Legolas Greenleaf, an elf, also has a surname, Westron translation of his elvish name. Beleg Strongbow got his surname from his unmatched skill with bow, I suppose. And then there are hundreds of names like Atanatar the Glorious (Atanatar Alcarin). So, there are hundreds of surnames, and many of the lesser folk have family names, but has Tolkien ever mentioned elves or men of Gondor, Rohan, Arnor etc. as having family name systems? Tolkien carefully designed every part of his world, and I believe there is something written about this as well.