The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - Last names in Middle-earth

William Cloud Hicklin · 12-10-2009, 11:42 AM

No, I wouldn't call "Greenleaf" a surname in anything like the modern sense. After all, we don't hear of Oropher Greenleaf or Thranduil Greenleaf!

Whether it was an epesse, a father-name or a mother-name, the significant point is that it was personal to Legolas- it wasn't an hereditary nomen shared by all members of the gens. It's of course common in Tolkien for characters, especially those of high lineage, to own a hatful of names which they use as alternates or in combination; but I'm not aware that anything like a 'family name' is to be found outside the Shire and Bree.

EDIT: isn't 'Greenleaf' just the translation of laeg + gwa-lass?

12-10-2009, 11:42 AM	#12
William Cloud Hicklin Loremaster of Annúminas Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,330	No, I wouldn't call "Greenleaf" a surname in anything like the modern sense. After all, we don't hear of Oropher Greenleaf or Thranduil Greenleaf! Whether it was an epesse, a father-name or a mother-name, the significant point is that it was personal to Legolas- it wasn't an hereditary nomen shared by all members of the gens. It's of course common in Tolkien for characters, especially those of high lineage, to own a hatful of names which they use as alternates or in combination; but I'm not aware that anything like a 'family name' is to be found outside the Shire and Bree. EDIT: isn't 'Greenleaf' just the translation of laeg + gwa-lass? __________________ The entire plot of The Lord of the Rings could be said to turn on what Sauron didn’t know, and when he didn’t know it.