The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien
Dates
The earliest recorded member of the family was Laura Grubb, born in III 2807 (1207 by the Shire-reckoning)1
Race
Culture
Settlements
Uncertain; but the firm of Grubb, Grubb and Burrowes was known to serve Hobbiton
Meaning
Approximately 'one who digs in the ground'2

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  • Updated 6 February 2023
  • This entry is complete

Grubb Family

The family of Bilbo Baggins’ grandmother

An important and wealthy family of the Shire-hobbits. At least some of the family were involved in auctioneering, a fact we can deduce from the name of the company set to sell Bilbo Baggins' belongings at the end of The Hobbit, Messrs. Grubb, Grubb and Burrowes. In fact, Bilbo had a slight connection with the family: his paternal grandmother was Laura Grubb. She married Mungo Baggins, and together they produced five children, of whom the eldest was Bungo Baggins, Bilbo's father.


Notes

1

Laura was the first Hobbit named Grubb for whom we have a specific date of birth, and she had a sister, Lavender, born just five years later. The fact that both these sisters were named 'Grubb' shows that the family must already have been established at this date, but we have no records of any earlier generations of Grubbs.

2

In his guide to translators of The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien offers an explanation of the name 'Grubb'. He doesn't offer a direct translation, but says instead that the name '...is meant to recall the English verb grub "dig, root, in the ground."'.

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About this entry:

  • Updated 6 February 2023
  • This entry is complete

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