There’s a Real Sam Gamgee and He Contacted Tolkien

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If you’re a fan of “Lord of the Rings,” you might be astonished to learn that there’s a genuine Sam Gamgee in existence. The actual Gamgee was taken aback when he found out about the fictional character bearing his name within the “LOTR” universe. Upon this discovery, the real Gamgee reached out to J.R.R. Tolkien and was delighted to receive a response from the author in letter 184, as documented in the book “The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien.” TikTok user celebreabird recently shared this fascinating tale.

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It seems like there was another Sam Gamgee in the world of Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings”! Isn’t it fascinating to imagine? #SamGamgee #SamWiseGamgee #Tolkien #LordOfTheRings #TheLordOfTheRings #LOTRTok #LOTR #LordOfTheRingstok #LOTRTikTok #JRRTolkien #TolkienLetters

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Originating from a neighborhood in South London, Sam Gamgee discovered that his name had been used during a 1955 radio broadcast of “The Lord of the Rings.” Friends and family shared this news with him after they heard it mentioned within the series. As a result, on March 15, 1956, Sam Gamgee penned a letter to J.R.R. Tolkien, inquiring about how the author came up with a name like his.

Here is an excerpt from Gamgee’s letter:

I wanted to reach out and ask if you don’t mind, given that your story ‘Lord of the Rings’ is currently being broadcast as a serial… I found myself quite intrigued by the name of one of the characters, Sam Gamgee. As it turns out, that’s my own name! I haven’t had a chance to listen to the story yet, as I don’t have a radio, but some folks I know have… Even though the story is fiction, it seems like quite an odd coincidence, given how rare the name is, but it’s particularly well-known in the medical profession.

Dear [Recipient’s Name],

I must admit, I was quite surprised to hear from you! Yet, I find myself secretly pleased. It has only been a few days since I received your letter, and now, on March 18th, I write in response.

You may be curious about my surname, Tolkien. As it happens, the name Gamgee holds some significance to me. You see, as a child, I lived near Birmingham, and they use the word “Gamgee” for cotton-wool there. It seems we share a connection through our names!

Being something of a linguistics enthusiast, I am always eager to learn more about the origins of names. Could you possibly provide me with some additional information about your name?

In addition, I would like to offer you a small gift as a token of my appreciation for reaching out to me. I have three volumes of my series signed by myself, and I would be delighted if one of them found a home with you.

Yours sincerely,
J.R.R. Tolkien

18 March 1956                                   As from 76 Sandfield Road, Headington, Oxford

Dear Mr Gamgee,

It’s truly thoughtful of you to have written me. I must admit, my surprise couldn’t have been greater when I recognized your signature! Let me tell you, the character ‘Sam Gamgee‘ from my story is a heroic figure, greatly admired by many readers today, despite his humble origins. Given this coincidence of the name, I hope you won’t mind that I chose to use it. You see, as a child I lived near Birmingham, and in our area we used ‘gamgee’ to refer to cotton-wool. Consequently, in my story, the families of Cotton and Gamgee are connected.

It wasn’t until a few days ago that I learned, though I knew it now, that ‘Gamgee’ was shortened from ‘gamgee-tissue’. This name was given to a medical invention created by a surgeon, who lived between 1828 and 1886. It is possible (I believe) that his son, who passed away on March 1st this year at the age of 88, was also a professor of surgery at Birmingham University. Interestingly, ‘Sam’ or something similar seems to be associated with the family, though I had never known this until I read Professor Gamgee’s obituary notice and discovered that he was the son of Sampson Gamgee, and looked up the information about the inventor, who was S. Gamgee (1828-86). It seems likely that they are one and the same.

Are there any stories or customs connected to the unique and prestigious origin of your unusual name, since I too have an uncommon name and find such tales intriguing?

In the book I’m referring to, the ‘origin’ presented is purely fictitious, crafted solely for my narrative purposes. It might not appeal to you, given its length and focus on a mythical realm. However, if you find it intriguing, it’s widely available in most public libraries, though it comes at a hefty price (£3/3/0). If you or your family members give it a try and enjoy it, I would be delighted and honored to send you a signed set of all three volumes as a token of appreciation from the author to the esteemed Gamgee family.

Yrs sincerely
J. R. R. Tolkien.

If you’ve been curious, it turns out that Sam Gamgee responded, providing J.R.R. Tolkien with additional details about his family. Naturally, he graciously accepted the gifts sent by Tolkien as well. Interestingly, this incident left a lasting impression on Tolkien, who recorded in his journal, “For a while, I harbored apprehension about receiving a letter signed S. Gollum, as that would have been challenging to manage.” Regrettably, I too find myself longing to pen a letter to Tolkien and receive the complete series in return, but that remains a dream. Nonetheless, I’m heartened that the actual Sam Gamgee connected with his literary character.

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2025-03-28 23:33