What was the full name of the author known as J.R.R. Tolkien?

The full name of J.R.R. Tolkien was John Ronald Reuel Tolkien.

He was born on 3 January 1892 in Bloemfontein, in what was then the Orange Free State, and became one of the most influential fantasy authors of the 20th century. The initials in his familiar author name come from Ronald and Reuel, while John was his first given name.

Tolkien’s name is sometimes expanded incorrectly because readers assume the middle initials stand for more conventional names. Reuel was a family name associated with his father’s side and was also used as Tolkien’s middle name. His son Christopher Tolkien later became an important editor of his unpublished writings.

The author is best known for The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion. He was also a philologist and university professor, and his expertise in historical languages strongly influenced the names, languages, and legends of Middle-earth.