stoors

Stoors are a fictional subgroup of Hobbits in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. They are one of the three principal Hobbit breeds described by Tolkien, alongside Harfoots and Fallohides. In Tolkien’s notes, Stoors are generally described as taller and stockier than Harfoots, with broader faces and a sturdier build. They tended to have darker hair and eyes, and a practical, steadfast disposition. Unlike the more nomadic Harfoots, Stoors were more inclined to settle near water, make use of boats, and engage in river life, farming, and trade.

Geographically, Stoors were associated with the eastern regions of the Shire and with river lands along eastern banks of rivers such as the Brandywine and Anduin. Over time, as Hobbits migrated and intermarried, distinct Stoor lineage largely merged with other Hobbit lineages, contributing to the mixed ancestry that characterizes most Shire families in the later ages.

In Tolkien’s published works, Stoors are not a major population center but are referenced in genealogies and histories of Hobbits. The concept of the Stoors helps illustrate the diversity of Hobbit-kind and the way different hobbit lineages contributed to the development of a unified Hobbit culture in the Shire.