J.R.R. Tolkien’s mother, who encouraged his interest in languages, was named Mabel Tolkien.
Mabel taught Tolkien and his brother Hilary at home for a time and introduced them to Latin, French, German, and other subjects. Her teaching helped stimulate Tolkien’s lifelong fascination with languages, word histories, and invented linguistic systems. She also supported his early drawing and reading.
Mabel converted to Roman Catholicism in 1900, a decision that deeply influenced Tolkien. She died in 1904, when Tolkien was twelve, and he regarded her as a martyr for her faith because relatives had withdrawn financial support after her conversion. Tolkien’s later Catholic identity and his imaginative work are often discussed alongside her influence.