The Encyclopedia of Arda The Encyclopedia of Arda Interactive Edition available now
ALPHABETICAL • RACES • PLACES • MISCELLANEOUS • SITE SERVICES • ARTICLES & GUIDES • INTERACTIVE
Latest • Maps • FAQ • Chronicle • Calendar • Excyclopedia • Old & Rare Words • Links • Random
Dates
Born in Valinor during the Years of the Trees; presumably still extant
Race
Elves
Division
Noldor
Family
House of Finarfin
Pronunciation
fi'narrfin
Meaning
Not given in the canonical works1
Titles
Finarfin was accounted King of that tenth part of the Noldor who remained in Valinor

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 3 April 1999
  • Updates planned: 8

Finarfin

King over the Noldor in Aman

Finwë
(1) Míriel
(2) Indis
Fëanor
Fingolfin
Finarfin
Eärwen
Finrod
Orodreth
Angrod
Aegnor
Galadriel

The youngest of Finwë's three sons; when his half-brother Fëanor led the host of the Noldor back to Middle-earth, Finarfin chose to remain in Valinor, and became King of those Noldor who remained also. His five children, Finrod, Orodreth, Angrod, Aegnor and Galadriel, all followed Fëanor into the east.


Notes

1

A possible derivation appears in The Peoples of Middle-earth (The History of Middle-earth Vol. 12): XI The Shibboleth of Fëanor. Here, Finarfin is a contraction of Finwë Arafinwë adapted to the sounds of Sindarin. The meaning would be 'Finwë, noble Finwë' (according to this source, Finwë originally named each of his three sons after himself).

It should be noted, though, that The Shibboleth of Fëanor dates from the late 1960's, suggesting that Tolkien invented this derivation 'after the event' - it appears (though this cannot be stated certainly) that the name came first, and its derivation followed years later.

See also...

Aegnor, Alatáriel, Aman, Angrod, Artanis, Celeborn, Dagor Aglareb, Doom of Mandos, Eärwen, Elendë, Elf-kings, Exiles, Fëanor, Finrod Felagund, Galadriel, [See the full list...]

For acknowledgements and references, see the Disclaimer & Bibliography page.

Original content © copyright Mark Fisher 1999, 2001. All rights reserved. For conditions of reuse, see the Site FAQ.