Hornblower Family

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The Hornblower Family was an old and important family of the Shire's Southfarthing. Its most famous member was Tobold Hornblower of Longbottom, who introduced pipe-weed into the Shire, and his family remained associated with industry.[1] Their Longbottom Leaf variety was famous, and indeed barrels of Leaf bearing the Hornblower mark were found as far afield the ruins of Isengard.[2]

From Tobold's time, and perhaps earlier, the Hornblowers were one of the Shire's more important families. The importance of the family is also seen in the jewel-name of Amethyst, and her marriage into the Bolger Family.[3] Frodo Baggins himself had Hornblower blood — his great-grandfather Largo Baggins married one Tanta Hornblower.[4]

Etymology

The meaning of this old family name is occupational; perhaps one of Tobold's ancestors, or himself, actually did blow a horn of some kind.[5] Perhaps the name is a punning reference to pipe-smoking.

Inspiration

Hornblow and Hornblower are real-life English surnames.[5]

References