The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien
Dates
Became hereditary Thains of the Shire in III 2340; still extant at the end of the Third Age
Race
Division
Descended in large part from the Fallohides
Culture
Settlements
The family seat was at Great Smials in the Tookland
Meaning
An anglicisation of the Hobbit name Tûk, perhaps derived from a word meaning 'daring'1

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 5 November 2008
  • Updates planned: 1

Took Family

Hereditary Thains of the Shire

Isumbras
Took I

A line of eight
unnamed Thains
Isengrim
Took II

Isumbras
Took III

Ferumbras
Took II

Bandobras Took
(The Bullroarer)
Fortinbras
Took I

Gerontius Took
(The Old Took)
Isengrim
Took III

Isumbras
Took IV

Hildigrim
Took

Hildibrand
Took

Belladonna
Took

Mirabella
Took

Six other children2
Fortinbras
Took II

Adalgrim
Took

Fredegar
Bolger

Bilbo
Baggins

Frodo
Baggins

Ferumbras
Took III

Three
daughters
Paladin
Took II

Esmeralda
Took

Three
daughters
Peregrin
Took I

Meriadoc
Brandybuck

Faramir
Took I

The Took family of Great Smials, hereditary Thains of the Shire since the time of Isumbras I. This genealogical tree shows the descent of the Thains of the Took line (shown in bold) and other important Shire-hobbits related to this important family.

An old family of the Shire, who farmed the lands around Tuckborough in the Westfarthing. The head of the Took family was the hereditary Thain of the Shire from the time of Isumbras I.


Notes

1

According to notes reproduced in volume XII of The History of Middle-earth, Tûk was thought by the Tooks themselves to come from an old word tūca, meaning 'daring', though Tolkien calls this 'a wholly unfounded guess' on their part. The name 'Took', of course, also exists as real modern surname, also of uncertain meaning (though some sources suggest a circuitous derivation from Thor kil, 'Thor's kettle').

2

Thain Gerontius (otherwise known as the Old Took) had a total of twelve children. For clarity, this selective family tree only includes those who played a part in the descent of the Thainship, or whose descendants were important in the history of the Third Age. The omitted children were (in order of age) Hildigard, Isembold, Hildifons, Isembard, Donnamira and Isengar.

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 5 November 2008
  • Updates planned: 1

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