Hornblower Family
The Hornblower Family was an old and important family of the Shire's Southfarthing. Its most famous member was Tobold Hornblower of Longbottom, who introduced pipe-weed into the Shire, and his family remained associated with the industry.[1] Their Longbottom Leaf variety was famous, and indeed barrels of Leaf bearing the Hornblower mark were found as far afield as the ruins of Isengard.[2]
From Tobold's time, and perhaps earlier, the Hornblowers were one of the Shire's more important families. The importance of the family is also seen in the jewel-name of Amethyst, and her marriage into the prominent Bolger Family.[3] Tanta Hornblower married into the Baggins Family by marrying Largo Baggins; they were the great-grandparents of Frodo Baggins.[4]
Etymology[edit | edit source]
The meaning of this old family name is occupational; perhaps one of Tobold's ancestors, or himself, actually did blow a horn of some kind.[5] Perhaps the name is a punning reference to pipe-smoking.
Inspiration[edit | edit source]
Hornblow and Hornblower are real-life English surnames.[5]
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, "Prologue", "Concerning Pipe-weed"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "Flotsam and Jetsam"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix C, "Bolger of Budgeford"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix C, "Baggins of Hobbiton"
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, "Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings" in Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. 760
