A name for Legolas in Lord of the Rings drafts (TI/148). This name also appeared in The Etymologies from the 1930s along with another form Gallor, which probably developed when voiced stops became spirants after liquids [ld > lð] and then [[n|medial [lð] became [ll]]]. Later the name S. Galdor was used for the father of Húrin.
Sindarin
galdor
masculine name. Galdor
Changes
- Galion → Galdor ✧ WJI/Galdor
- Galion → Galdor ✧ WJI/Galion
Elements
Word Gloss GAL “light; shine, be bright” -dor “*king, lord” Variations
- Galion ✧ WJI/Galdor; WJI/Galion
The father of Húrin (S/148). The meaning of this name is unclear, though David Salo suggested it might be a combination of the root GAL “light” and the suffix -dor “lord” (GS/350). It could as also be a name derived from his name language, like those of his youngest son and grandson Huor and Tuor (PM/348, 364 note #49).
Conceptual Development: In the earliest Lost Tales, G. Galdor was a Noldo lord in Gondolin, lord of the People of the Tree (LT2/215). In the unfinished story “The Lost Road” from the 1930s, the name Galdor or Agaldor was given to an exiled Númenórean in rough notes (LR/77-9). The name N. Galdor appeared in The Etymologies from the 1930s, where its initial element was explained as either the root ᴹ√GAL “thrive” or ᴹ√GALAD “tree” (Ety/GALA). In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, Galdor was an early name for Legolas (TI/148).
Conversely, in Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s the name of Húrin’s father was initially N. Gumlin (LR/275).