J.R.R. Tolkien gives Samwise the surname Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings.
Samwise Gamgee, usually called Sam, is Frodo Baggins’s gardener and most dependable companion. He begins the story in the Shire and joins Frodo when the Ring must be taken away from Bag End. Although Sam initially has little experience beyond his home district, his courage and practical judgment become central to the quest.
The name “Gamgee” has a real-world connection. Tolkien knew the word from Birmingham usage, where “gamgee” referred to cotton wool or a type of surgical dressing. The word was associated with the surgeon Sampson Gamgee, whose name became familiar in Birmingham. Tolkien adapted the sound for his fictional family name.
Sam’s formal name is Samwise Gamgee, and “Samwise” is related to the Old English element meaning half-wise or simple. Tolkien used the name affectionately rather than as a literal judgment of the character’s intelligence. In the story, Sam proves observant, resilient, and capable of making difficult decisions under extreme pressure.