beor

Beor, sometimes called Bëor the Old, is a figure in J. R. R. Tolkien’s legendarium recognized as a noble Edain chieftain and the founder of the House of Bëor. In the published texts he is presented as the progenitor of a line that would become central to the early history of the Edain in Beleriand.

Name and form. The name Bëor appears in Tolkien’s Sindarin-derived nomenclature, while Beor is the more general Anglicized rendering used in some editions and discussions of the legendarium.

Biographical outline. Beor is described as a leader of the Edain who crossed into Beleriand during the early First Age. He and his people established relations with the Elves, including the Noldor, and became part of the wider alliance against Morgoth. His leadership and descendants helped to shape the dealings between the Edain and the Elves in the early part of the First Age.

Family and lineage. Beor’s son was Barahir, and Barahir’s son was Beren, the hero of the tale of Beren and Lúthien. Thus Beor stands as the grandfather of Beren and the founder of the line that produced one of the central figures in the Silmarillion’s primary narrative.

Legacy and significance. Beor’s house, the House of Bëor, is one of the three principal Edain houses that settled in Beleriand, alongside the Houses of Haleth and Marach. The lineage through Barahir to Beren emphasizes the Beorian contribution to the enduring bond between Edain and Elves and to the broader history of the First Age.

In literature. Beor is a relatively minor figure within Tolkien’s published works, referenced primarily for his role as the ancestor of Beren and as the progenitor of the House of Bëor in the unfolding history of the Edain.