The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien
Dates
Race
Culture
Family
Settlements
Probably lived in Bywater1
Pronunciation
Wilcome is pronounced 'wi'lkum'
Meaning
Uncertain2
Other names
'Wilcome' was often abbreviated to 'Will'

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 9 September 2011
  • This entry is complete

Wilcome ‘Will’ Cotton

Brother to Farmer Cotton

The second son of Holman Cotton of Bywater, and thus the younger brother of Farmer Tolman and uncle to Rose, the bride of Sam Gamgee. Little is known of his life, other than the fact that he was born in the year III 2946, five years after his elder brother (and, coincidentally, after Bilbo's great adventure). The Cotton family were indigenous to Bywater, and so it seems likely that Wilcome also lived in that village. It's unclear whether he left any descendants (none are recorded) but Wilcome's name at least lived on; his brother Tolman chose to name his second son 'Wilcome' after his own younger brother.


Notes

1

Wilcome's father Holman Cotton was associated with Bywater, and so was Wilcome's elder brother Tom (Farmer Cotton) so it seems a reasonable assumption that Wilcome himself lived in or near that village.

2

As a modern name 'Wilcome' (or any of its many variations) usually derives from the Old English for 'welcome', and that fits with the homely associations of the Cottons' origins. Other possible sources are 'well-combed' or 'willow valley'; neither of these seem to fit quite as well, but we know so little of Wilcome's life that either remains a possibility.

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 9 September 2011
  • This entry is complete

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

Original content © copyright Mark Fisher 2010-2011. All rights reserved. For conditions of reuse, see the Site FAQ.

Website services kindly sponsored by Discus from Axiom Software Ltd.
Discus questionnaires work on the screen or in printed form to suit your needs, in any of dozens of languages.
The Encyclopedia of Arda
The Encyclopedia of Arda
Menu
Homepage Search Latest Entries and Updates Random Entry