The son of Hamfast of Gamwich, Wiseman was one of the earliest Hobbits to be recorded in the family line that would become known as the Gamgees. He was born in the year III 2800 (or 1200 by the Shire-reckoning), more than two centuries before the War of the Ring. Wiseman took his surname from the village of Gamwich where he had been born and raised, but in later life he departed to settle in Tighfield. He had a single recorded son, born when Wiseman was forty-six years old, whom he named Hob.
Wiseman's son Hob would acquire the name Gammidge (a corruption of Wiseman's own surname Gamwich), which would eventually change to Gammidgy, and ultimately give rise to the family name Gamgee. Through his son Hob Gammidge, Wiseman Gamwich was the great-grandfather of Hamfast Gamgee the Gaffer, and thus the great-great-grandfather of Samwise Gamgee of the Company of the Ring.
Notes
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These two contradictory meanings arise - at least in actual English surnames - because sometimes the name 'wise man' was meant literally, but sometimes the name would be given ironically to an individual who was far from wise. This kind of ironic naming was quite familiar to the Shire-hobbits, so either interpretation seems plausible.
In reality, Wiseman's name was perhaps influenced by Christopher Wiseman, an old school friend of Tolkien's and fellow member of the Tea Club and Barrovian Society (or T.C.B.S.) during their schooldays, with whom Tolkien continued to correspond throughout his life.
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- Updated 26 November 2022
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