Took Family

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Revision as of 16:54, 16 July 2015 by Mith (talk | contribs) (Decat)

The Took family was the pre-eminent clan of Hobbits in the Shire, being wealthy and having held the office of the Thain for centuries.[1] ("Took" was pronounced like "Two-k", not like "book" or "took" as in the past tense of "take"[source?]).

Territory, origins and customs

Tooks were mainly of Fallohide Hobbit stock, and had quite a reputation for unusual behavior (among other things being more adventurous than the other Hobbits[2]), a quality not valued in the Shire. For this reason they were seen as less respectable. An absurd legend among other families, was that one of the Took ancestors married a fairy. The Wizard Gandalf was a known, if disreputable, associate.[3] Bilbo Baggins and Meriadoc Brandybuck both had Took mothers.

The majority of the Tooks lived in the Great Smials of Tuckborough and in the surrounding area of Tookland, which lay in the Westfarthing.[4] A smaller clan called the North-tooks who lived far up in Long Cleeve; these were descendants of the legendary hero Bandobras Took.[5]

As was customary in traditional hobbit families, the head of the Took family ruled the clan with his wife, thus upon his death, she continued to rule as the matriarch of the family. Such was the case with Lalia Clayhanger who succeeded her husband, Fortinbras, to clan leadership. However, the Thainship passed only through male descent, so her son, Ferumbras III, was the Thain immediately after his father’s death.[6]

Took men usually were given high-sounding names which evoked battles, weapons or figures of legend, like Gerontius, Fortimbras or Isembold. Razanur Took (Pippin) was named after Razanur, a mythical traveller.[7] Took women had names of jewels, or exotic or mythical flowers.[8]

History

The first recorded Took was Isumbras Took, who in S.R. 740 became the 13th Thain of the Shire after Gorhendad Oldbuck crossed into Buckland and became the Master there. [9] Thereafter Isumbras Took was known as Isumbras I and the office of the Thain became hereditary within the Took family.

Excavation of the seat of the Took family, the Great Smials, was begun in S.R. 1083 by Thain Isengrim II.[9]

Bandobras Took, the "Bullroarer", defeated an Orc-band in the Northfarthing in 1147.[9]

In 1434 his descendant Peregrin "Pippin" Took became the 20th Thain of the Took line, the 32nd in the Shire. In 1484 Thain Peregrin I handed his office to his son, Faramir Took I and rode away from the Shire (later it is said that he and Meriadoc Brandybuck were laid to rest beside the bed of King Elessar after his passing).[10]

In the Fourth Age the Great Smials became an important repository of historic books and records.[11]

Family Tree of the Tooks of the Great Smials

Showing the line of the Thains and prominent members of the Took clan.[5] The figures after the names are those of birth (and death where that is recorded). A name preceded by an '*' indicates one who held the office of the Thain. A dashed line indicates marriage. Names in italics signify those who attended Bilbo's Farewell Party on 22 September S.R. 1401.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
* Isengrim II
1020-1122
[note 1]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
* Isumbras III
1066-1159
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
* Ferumbras II
1101-1201
 
Bandobras
('Bullroarer')
1104-1206
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
* Fortinbras I
1145-1248
 
Many descendants
[note 2]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
* Gerontius
The Old Took
1190-1320
 
Adamanta Chubb
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
* Isengrim III
1232-1330
(no children)
 
Hildigard
(died young)
 
* Isumbras IV
1238-1339
 
Hildigrim
1240-1341
 
Rosa Baggins
 
Isembold
1242-1346
 
Hildifons
1244
[note 3]
 
Isembard
1247-1346
 
Hildibrand
1249-1334
 
Belladonna
1252-1334
 
Bungo Baggins
 
Donnamira
1256-1348
 
Hugo Boffin
 
Mirabella
1260-1360
 
Gorbadoc Brandybuck
 
Isengar
1262-1360
[note 4]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lalia Clayhanger
1283-1402[6]
 
 
 
 
 
* Fortinbras II
1278-1380
 
 
 
Adalgrim
1280-1382
 
 
 
Many descendants
 
 
 
 
 
Flambard
1287-1389
 
Sigismond
1290-1391
 
 
 
(BILBO)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(six children)
 
(Primula)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
* Ferumbras III
1316-1415
(unmarried)
 
3 daughters
 
* Paladin II
1333-1434
 
Eglantine Banks
 
Esmeralda
1336
 
Saradoc Brandybuck
 
 
 
Adelard
1328-1423
 
Rosamunda
1338
 
 
 
 
 
Odovacar Bolger
 
Ferdinand
1340
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(FRODO)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pearl
1375
 
Pimpernel
1379
 
Pervinca
1385
 
* PEREGRIN I
1390
 
Diamond of Long Cleeve
1395
 
(MERIADOC)
 
Reginard
1369
 
3 daughters
 
Everard
1380
 
(Fredegar)
1380
 
(Estella)
1385[12]
 
Ferdibrand
1383
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
* Faramir I
1430
 
Goldilocks
[note 5]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Family Tree Notes

  1. Tenth Thain of the Took line
  2. Including the North-tooks of Long Cleeve
  3. Went off on a journey and never returned
  4. Said to have 'gone to sea' in his youth
  5. Daughter of Master Samwise

Etymology

Tûk was an older name of unknown meaning in Hobbitish Westron.[8]

Took is a Welsh surname, referring to a type of sword. One of the earliest spellings of the Hobbitish form of the name in The History of Middle-earth (Tūca) matches the Welsh spelling for this name/sword,[13] which suggests that Tolkien apparently was aware of the Welsh meaning.

Inspiration

The inspiration for Elvish blood amongst the Tooks may have possibly come from the Tollkühn family intermarrying with nobility:

"The family [Tollkühn] was also supposed to have connections with France and to have intermarried with the nobility in that country', where they acquired a French version of their nickname, du Temeraire."
J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography
" [Tolkien's] Aunt Grace preferred the more romantic (if implausible) story of how one of the du Temeraires [Tolkiens] had fled across the [English] Channel in 1794 to escape the guillotine, apparently then assuming a form of the old name, 'Tolkien'. This gentleman was reputedly an accomplished harpsichordist and clock-repairer."
J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography

The inspiration for the name Took may have come from Tollkühn, meaning "foolhardy".

"She [Tolkien's aunt Grace] alleged that the family name ['Tolkien'] had originally been 'von Hohenzollern', for they had emanated from the Hohenzollern district of the Holy Roman Empire. A certain George von Hohenzollern had, she said, fought on the side of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria at the Siege of Vienna in 1529. He had shown great daring in leading an unofficial raid against the Turks and capturing the Sultan's standard. This (said Aunt Grace) was why he was given the nickname Tollkühn, 'foolhardy'; and the name stuck."
J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography

References