# Where do Hobbits come from? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 12, 2007, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-hobbits-come-from/426139 "2007-11-12T16:14:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2007, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-hobbits-come-from/426139/1 "2007-11-12T16:14:05Z")
I recall there are creation myths for Dwarves, Elves and Men (as well as other sentient species) in Tolkien’s mythos, but I do not recall a creation tale about the Hobbits. Is there one? Is the topic addressed? -FrL- ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2007, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-hobbits-come-from/426139/2 "2007-11-12T16:20:33Z")
when a mummy hobbit and a daddy hobbit love each other very much, and have eaten 3 breakfasts… Good question. I look forward to reading someone’s serious answer. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2007, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-hobbits-come-from/426139/3 "2007-11-12T16:25:04Z")
Other hobbits doing the sex? Serious answer: the Hobbits are basically an offshoot species from Men. They came from the area between the Misty Mountains and Mirkwood, and nobody really knows exactly how they’re related to Men, and… that’s about it, as far as I know. ---
**Author:** ![DJ\_Motorbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90ced4/32.png) [@DJ\_Motorbike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DJ_Motorbike)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2007, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-hobbits-come-from/426139/4 "2007-11-12T16:26:00Z")
I think they are just a subset of men, and not truly a different race. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2007, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-hobbits-come-from/426139/5 "2007-11-12T16:31:52Z")
> [@](#): > > Where do Hobbits come from? Tiny little storks bring them. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2007, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-hobbits-come-from/426139/6 "2007-11-12T16:58:25Z")
What **DJ** said. They’re of the 2nd born, just like the Edain, the Haradrim, the Rhunions, etc. [sub]Rhunions?[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2007, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-hobbits-come-from/426139/7 "2007-11-12T18:03:35Z")
I bow to Qadop’s expertise, but it’s still rather confusing, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2007, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-hobbits-come-from/426139/8 "2007-11-12T18:15:46Z")
Hobbits are the Pygmies of Middle-Earth. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2007, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-hobbits-come-from/426139/9 "2007-11-12T18:22:20Z")
[QUOTE=Qadgop the Mercotan] What **DJ** said. They’re of the 2nd born, just like the Edain, the Haradrim, the Rhunions, etc. [sub]Rhunions?[/sub] [/QUOTE] Okay, I give, what is a Rhunion? You stumped me on this one. I believe the Drúedain or Woses are another offshoot. (Ghan-Buri-Ghan) Worthwhile note on the Hobbits from the prologue. > [@](#): > > Even in ancient days they were, as a rule, shy of ‘the Big Folk’, as > they call us, **and now they avoid us with dismay and are becoming hard to > find**. They are quick of hearing and sharp-eyed, and though they are inclined > to be fat and do not hurry unnecessarily, they are nonetheless nimble and > deft in their movements. They possessed from the first the art of > disappearing swiftly and silently, when large folk whom they do not wish to > meet come blundering by; > … > Their height is variable, ranging between two and four feet of our measure. They seldom now reach three feet; but they have dwindled, they say, and in ancient days they were taller. According to the Red Book, Bandobras Took (Bullroarer), > son of Isengrim the Second, was four foot five and able to ride a horse. He > was surpassed in all Hobbit records only by two famous characters of old; > but that curious matter is dealt with in this book. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2007, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-hobbits-come-from/426139/10 "2007-11-12T18:29:00Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] Okay, I give, what is a Rhunion? You stumped me on this one. [/QUOTE] The inhabitants of Rhun, I’d imagine. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2007, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-hobbits-come-from/426139/11 "2007-11-12T18:34:58Z")
[QUOTE=Captain Amazing] The inhabitants of Rhun, I’d imagine. [/QUOTE] Here I thought they might be called Dorwinions as a subset of the Easterlings. I am pretty sure there were no Rhunions. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2007, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-hobbits-come-from/426139/12 "2007-11-12T19:42:24Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] Here I thought they might be called Dorwinions as a subset of the Easterlings. I am pretty sure there were no Rhunions. Jim [/QUOTE] Rhun is the Sindarin word for east. And it was a pun on my part. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2007, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-hobbits-come-from/426139/13 "2007-11-12T20:41:19Z")
[QUOTE=Exapno Mapcase] Tiny little storks bring them. [/QUOTE] No, Hobbits live in holes. Tiny little _gophers_ bring them. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2007, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-hobbits-come-from/426139/14 "2007-11-12T21:29:49Z")
[QUOTE=Qadgop the Mercotan] What **DJ** said. They’re of the 2nd born, just like the Edain, the Haradrim, the Rhunions, etc. [sub]Rhunions?[/sub] [/QUOTE] Um, on a more serious note, is there anything canonical about the origin of the halflings? I mean, it certainly makes sense that they are simply men who are small, but there are some differences, such as the hairy, leathery feet. I’ve always assumed that the fact the Professor never cobbled up a specific creation myth for them meant they were already covered by the creation of mortal men, but you know the canon much better than I do any more… :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2007, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-hobbits-come-from/426139/15 "2007-11-12T21:33:44Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] Okay, I give, what is a Rhunion? You stumped me on this one. [/QUOTE] They’re what Scooby Doo likes to put on his sandwiches. He also likes rettuce and rustard. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2007, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-hobbits-come-from/426139/16 "2007-11-12T21:40:55Z")
[QUOTE=DSYoungEsq] Um, on a more serious note, is there anything canonical about the origin of the halflings? I mean, it certainly makes sense that they are simply men who are small, but there are some differences, such as the hairy, leathery feet. I’ve always assumed that the fact the Professor never cobbled up a specific creation myth for them meant they were already covered by the creation of mortal men, but you know the canon much better than I do any more… :eek: [/QUOTE] There little more definitive than the prologue of the LotR and some language notes in the appendix. They are men, just very short, furry footed men. Tolkien strongly hinted that there is still a few among us, or at least among the English. Take that as the LotR starts off still as a faerie story like the Hobbit as opposed to the epic it becomes by the time it leaves Bree. In the first few chapters we have the thoughts of a passing fox, randomly encountered elves, black riders barely fierce enough to scare an old hobbit and later some dogs, Tom Bombadil and of course Frodo’s long version of “The Man in the Moon”. It becomes much more serious in tone later. **Qadgop the Mercotan** : ok. **Miller** : cute, very cute. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2007, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-hobbits-come-from/426139/17 "2007-11-12T21:44:17Z")
Although Treebeard seemed to consider them a new and different race, as he found a way to include them in the looooooooooooong Entish poem that dealt with all of the peoples of Middle-Earth, including Men, Elves, Orcs, trolls, etc. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2007, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-hobbits-come-from/426139/18 "2007-11-12T21:45:43Z")
> [@](#): > > Rhunions? So did the witches in Macbeth encounter a “rump-fed Rhunion”, and Willy Shakespeare just didn’t spell it right? I always wiondered what a “Runyon” was. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2007, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-hobbits-come-from/426139/19 "2007-11-12T21:46:12Z")
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] Although Treebeard seemed to consider them a new and different race, as he found a way to include them in the looooooooooooong Entish poem that dealt with all of the peoples of Middle-Earth, including Men, Elves, Orcs, trolls, etc. [/QUOTE] Yeah, but he didn’t even know where the female gender of his race had gone off to. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2007, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-hobbits-come-from/426139/20 "2007-11-12T21:46:57Z")
[QUOTE=Qadgop the Mercotan] What **DJ** said. They’re of the 2nd born, just like the Edain, the Haradrim, the Rhunions, etc. [sub]Rhunions?[/sub] [/QUOTE] Is that like Funions? Or the makings of a sammich–ya got yer Edain (Edam), yer Ham (Haradrim) and yer Rhunions… I’ll go away now. 😛 Seriously, hobbits really come from an Indonesian island named Flores… which is why the female hobbits all have flower names. As to a few Hobbits still being around–I believe I dated some in college: short men with toe hair. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-hobbits-come-from/426139.md?page=2)