Harfoots

Harfoots are one of the three ancestral breeds of Hobbits described in J. R. R. Tolkien’s legendarium. Along with the Fallohides and Stoors, the Harfoots are considered one of the foundational lineages of Hobbit-kind, and they are often regarded as the most quintessential or “typical” Hobbits in the early histories of Middle-earth. They are associated with the western regions of Middle-earth and with the early settlement of the Shire and its surroundings.

In physical terms, the Harfoots are described as shorter and more sturdy in build than other Hobbits, with brown or dark hair and a practical, unflashy appearance. They are said to prefer living in and around hills and burrows, where their daily life centers on farming, tending gardens, and crafts. Their culture emphasizes thrift, close family ties, and a steady, community-focused way of life. They are generally less given to wandering than the Fallohides, though they are capable of movement when needed.

Historically, the Harfoots are presented as the most numerous Hobbit stock in the early ages and the chief founders of Hobbit communities that would later become the Shire. Over time they mixed with the other Hobbit breeds—Fallohides and Stoors—leading to the varied Hobbit stock described in later writings. This blending contributed to the Shire’s customary ways and social structure, including its emphasis on agrarian life and local governance.

In popular media, the Harfoots have been depicted in adaptations such as The Rings of Power (2022) as a nomadic, caravan-dwelling group that travels with the seasons, emphasizing their origins as a mobile, communal people before the rise of settled Hobbit society.