Third Time Pays For All: The Courtship of Bungo Baggins (with a side of Hobbiton's History)
GIMLI: I do not really suppose that even now you are telling us all you know. GANDALF: Of course not. - The Quest for Erebor (variant text) This is going to be about Bilbo's parents, but let's first talk about Hobbiton. Hobbiton is, on the face, a rather silly name - literally just 'Hobbit-town'. It might make more sense if it had been the only hobbit settlement... but it's not even the largest! It is also unlikely the name that they would have given it. So, what is going on here? We know that a group of hobbits from Bree were granted the lands known as "the Shire" by King Argeleb II of Arthedain - with "Shire" likely an administrative name used in the kingdoms of the north, becoming "the" Shire when Fornost fell. Marcho and Blanco crossed the old Bridge of Stonebows in 1601 TA and began settlement; the Stoors did...
