Gamgee family: Difference between revisions
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==Inspiration== | ==Inspiration== | ||
[[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] noted that Gamgee is an uncommon English surname whose origin he did not know. | In [[Guide to the Names in The Lord of the Rings | Nomenclature]], [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] noted that Gamgee is an uncommon English surname whose origin he did not know. | ||
The name ''Gamgee'' appears to be Welsh, which should come as no surprise, because as Tolkien said: "many 'English' surnames, ranging from the rarest to the most familiar, are linguistically derived from Welsh (or British), from place-names, patronymics, personal names, or nick-names; or are in part so derived, even when that origin is no longer obvious." (''[[The Monsters and the Critics]]'' p. 167)<p> ''Gamgee'' is similar to a class of Welsh appellations like ''bralgi'' (a ragged fellow); ''brolgi'' (braggart); and ''llwfrgi'' (coward), where –''gi'' (pronounced ''gee'') is the mutated form of ''ci'' (dog). The literal meaning would be ''crooked'' (as in ''lame'') ''dog''.<ref>[[Mark T. Hooker]], [[The Tolkienæum]] (2014), pp. 203-204.</ref> | |||
<p>In a [[Letter to H. Cotton Minchin (16 April 1956) | letter]], Tolkien wrote that his "use of gamgee in assoc. with [[Cotton Family | cotton]], was like most of the Shire derived from childhood. In those days we called 'cotton-wool' gamgee," a word derived from the name of [[Wikipedia:Samson Gamgee|Samson Gamgee]] who invented '[[Wikipedia:Gamgee tissue|Gamgee tissue]]'.<ref>{{HM|N}}, p. 758</ref> | |||
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[[Category:Gamgee]] | [[Category:Gamgee]] |
Revision as of 18:44, 8 August 2014
The Gamgee Family was an old family of the Shire, originally from the village of Gamwich. Samwise Gamgee of the Company of the Ring belonged to this family, though his branch was renamed Gardner in honour of his replanting of the Shire.[1]
Etymology
"Gamgee" derives from the earlier name Gammidgy, referring to the village Gamwich of the Shire. "Gamgee" is the Anglicized translation of Hobbitish surname Galpsi.[2]
The Longfather–Tree of Master Samwise
Showing also the rise of the families of Gardner of the Hill and of Fairbairn of the Towers.[1] The figures after the names are those of birth (and death where that is recorded). A dashed line indicates marriage.
Family Tree Notes
- ↑ Removed to Tighfield
- ↑ Of Hobbiton
- ↑ Of Hobbiton
- ↑ Of Tighfield
- ↑ Took up with his 'Cousin Holman' in Hobbiton as a gardener.
- ↑ Joined his uncle, the roper
- ↑ Removed to Northfarthing
- ↑ Rode from Bag End on 22 September 1482. Said to have passed over the Sea.
- ↑ Fastred and Elanor removed to the Westmarch, a country then newly settled (being a gift of King Elessar) between the Far Downs and the Tower Hills. From them came the Fairbairns of the Towers, Wardens of Westmarch, who inherited the Red Book, and made several copies with various notes and later additions.
- ↑ Son of Thain Peregrin I.
Inspiration
In Nomenclature, Tolkien noted that Gamgee is an uncommon English surname whose origin he did not know.
The name Gamgee appears to be Welsh, which should come as no surprise, because as Tolkien said: "many 'English' surnames, ranging from the rarest to the most familiar, are linguistically derived from Welsh (or British), from place-names, patronymics, personal names, or nick-names; or are in part so derived, even when that origin is no longer obvious." (The Monsters and the Critics p. 167)
Gamgee is similar to a class of Welsh appellations like bralgi (a ragged fellow); brolgi (braggart); and llwfrgi (coward), where –gi (pronounced gee) is the mutated form of ci (dog). The literal meaning would be crooked (as in lame) dog.[5]
In a letter, Tolkien wrote that his "use of gamgee in assoc. with cotton, was like most of the Shire derived from childhood. In those days we called 'cotton-wool' gamgee," a word derived from the name of Samson Gamgee who invented 'Gamgee tissue'.[6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix C, "The Longfather-tree of Master Samwise"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix F, "On Translation"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "Later Events Concerning the Members of the Fellowship of the Ring"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, "Preface", note 2
- ↑ Mark T. Hooker, The Tolkienæum (2014), pp. 203-204.
- ↑ 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. 758