Yes, I am perfectly aware that the matter is (deliberately) left unsettled in the Greater Perfesser’s writings. I am calling on y’all to take your best guesses, explaining your reasoning with as much bullshit as you find necessary. Ents are included in the discussion because the origins of the two races are somewhat similar, though Dwarves are obviously more human-like than the tree-herds.
Persons who wish to speculate on possible crosses between Dwarves & Elves, Dwarves & Men, and Dwarves & Hobbits are encourages to check out this thread rather than cluttering up the current one.