What is the full name of the English writer known as J.R.R. Tolkien?

The full name of the writer known as J.R.R. Tolkien was John Ronald Reuel Tolkien.

Tolkien was born John Ronald Reuel Tolkien on 3 January 1892 in Bloemfontein, in what was then the Orange Free State. The initials in his familiar name therefore stand for Ronald and Reuel, rather than for two surnames or titles.

He became internationally known for The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, but he was also a philologist and university teacher. His expertise in historical languages strongly influenced the languages, names, and histories of Middle-earth.

A common mix-up is assuming that Tolkien’s first name was Ronald because that was the name he commonly used. His birth name was John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, while “J.R.R. Tolkien” became his standard professional form.