Took clan and for the same reason they were one of the richer clans. The Wizard Gandalf was a known, if disreputable, associate. Bilbo Baggins and Meriadoc Brandybuck both had Took mothers, and Frodo Baggins had a Took grandmother. In the opening chapter of "The Hobbit", Tolkien suggests that a distant Took ancestor took a Fairy for a wife, possibly accounting for their 'unexpected behaviors'. However, he immediately notes that such a supposition was ridiculous. Notes: Took clan In J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium, the Took clan () was one of the most famous Hobbit families. Pippin of the Fellowship of
Meriadoc Brandybuck was Drogo Took. He was later renamed Vigo, and the name Drogo reassigned to Frodo's father. After that, he was renamed Marmaduke, and finally Meriadoc Brandybuck. Frodo and Merry are first cousins once removed. Their common ancestors are Gorbadoc Brandybuck and Mirabella Took Brandybuck. Merry was born T.A. 2982 (or, in the Shire-reckoning, in 1382), in Buckland. He is the only child of Saradoc Brandybuck (T.A. 2940-F.A. 11), who was a Master of Buckland, and Esmeralda Brandybuck (née Took) (T.A. 2936- ?), the younger sister of Paladin Took II (T.A. 2933–3034), making him first cousin to Paladin's son Peregrin Took.