The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien
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Culture
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Pronunciation
e'rling
Meaning
Probably 'farmer' or a related term1

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  • Updated 30 July 2021
  • This entry is complete

Erling

A son of Holman the greenhanded

One of the five children of Holman the greenhanded of Hobbiton, Erling belonged to the earlier generations of Samwise Gamgee's family, though he was not a direct ancestor of Sam himself. Instead, Erling's elder sister Rowan married Hob Gammidge of Tighfield, who was to become Sam's great-grandfather.


Notes

1

We have a clue to the meaning behind Erling's name in earlier drafts for the Gamgee family genealogy in volume XII of The History of Middle-earth, where the name is given the form Erdling. In Old English, erdling (or yrðling) was literally 'earthling', in the sense of someone connected to the earth or soil. The term could be used in a general way for 'farmer', but was also used in a more specific sense to denote 'ploughman'.

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 30 July 2021
  • This entry is complete

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