Wikipedia
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional universe of Middle-earth, the Thain was the traditional military leader of the Hobbits of the Shire (compare Thegn). The Hobbits first chose a Thain to "hold the authority of the king" when Arvedui, last King of Arnor, was lost and the kingship in the North discontinued. The Thainship was originally held by the Oldbuck Clan. In 740 SR, it passed to the Tooks, and has remained a hereditary position in their clan ever since. Though a viceregal position, the Thain never wielded significant political authority, as the Shire remained a very loosely organized society and rarely faced military threats from outside.
Other officers in the Shire include the Master of Buckland, the Mayor of Michel Delving in the White Downs, and (in the Fourth Age) the Warden of Westmarch created by King Elessar.
Thain is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:
- Colin Thain, political scientist
- Gary Thain (1948–1975), musician
- John Thain (born 1955), businessman
- Kevin Thain (born 1969), shinty player
- Thain Simon (1922–2007), ice hockey defenceman
- Thain Wendell MacDowell (1890–1960), recipient of the Victoria Cross
- Thomas Thain (died 1832), politician
Usage examples of "thain".
The Thain was the master of the Shire-moot, and captain of the Shire-muster and the Hobbitry-in-arms, but as muster and moot were only held in times of emergency, which no longer occurred, the Thainship had ceased to be more than a nominal dignity.
They chose a Thain to take the place of the King, and were content.