A short-lived family name among the Shire-hobbits, derived from the village name of Gamwich (itself a translation of the original Hobbit-name Galabas). In about the year III 2800 (or 1200 by the Shire-reckoning, about two centuries before the War of the Ring), one of the village's residents was known as Hamfast of Gamwich. His son Wiseman removed to Tighfield, where he was known as 'Wiseman Gamwich'. By the time Wiseman's own son Hob acquired the name, it had been simplified to represent its natural pronunciation, so that Hob was known as 'Hob Gammidge'.
Hob Gammidge of Tighfield was in fact the only known Hobbit to use the name in the form 'Gammidge'. He acquired a nickname, becoming known as 'Old Gammidgy', and it was this 'Gammidgy' form that would be passed down to his descendants. His son Hobson, who continued the rope-making trade established by his father, saw his name further corrupted, so he was known not as 'Roper Gammidgy' but as 'Roper Gamgee'. These were the beginnings of the family name of 'Gamgee' (representing the original form Galpsi that would have been used in the Shire itself). Hobson's son Hamfast inherited the name as Hamfast Gamgee, and Hamfast's own son was the famous Samwise Gamgee of the Company of the Ring.
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- Updated 6 August 2023
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