The term Seven Tribes usually refers to the seven tribes of the Dwarves, including:
- the Longbeards also known as the Mountain-Dwarves or Dúrin's folk. The tribe of Dúrin the Deathless.
- the Firebeards also known as Úri's folk or Barin's folk. The tribe of Úri or Barin the Scarred.
- the Broadbeams also known as Linnar's folk or Dwálin's folk. The tribe of Dwálin the wise or Linnar.
- the Ironfists also known as Sindri's folk or Thelor's folk. The tribe of Sindri or Thelor.
- the Stiffbeards also known as Thúlin's folk or Vanhä Isä's folk. The tribe of Thúlin or Vanhä Isä.
- the Blacklocks also known as Vár's folk or Druin's folk. The tribe of Druin the Proud or Vár.
- the Stonefoots also known as Vigdi's folk or Malin's Folk. The tribe of Vigdís or Malin the Cold.
The exiled ones of the ancient Dwarf-cities, the Petty-dwarves, are not considered dwarves of the seven tribes anymore, nor are the Mornaugrim of Mordor.
Outer history and speculations[]
The names of the seven dwarf-fathers differ in MERP and The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying Game. MERP names them Dúrin the Deathless, Thrár the cold, Dwálin, Thélor, Bávor the swift, Drúin the proud, and Bárin the scarred; while LotRRPG names them Dúrin, Úri, Linnar, Sindri, Thúlin, Vár, and Vigdís. Like Dúrin (sleepy or gate-warden) the names Dválinn (Dawdler), Þrar (stubborn), and Bávorr (grumbler) are Old Norse and taken from the Völuspá or other Old Norse sources such as the Þulur; while Thélor, Drúin, and Bárin seem to be fantasy-forms. Úri (smith), Sindri (Sparky), þulinn (Chanter), Varr (careful), and Vigdís (War goddess) follow the example of Old Norse names from the Eddas (although Varr and Vigdís are female names and thus seem unsuitable for dwarf-fathers), while Linnar is obscure and may also be a fantasy form just like Thélor, Druin, and Bárin (Linnar is a modern Swedish name that may be derived from the Old Norse name Lindorm or the Finnish boy name Lennar. Since Lindormr actually means "Dragon" or "Serpent" it would be an odd name for a dwarf).
Perhaps Dúrin, Dwálin, Thrar, Bávor, Úri, Sindri, Thulin can be interpreted as the names of the Seven Fathers as they were told to the Northrons; while Thelor, Druin, Linnar, and Barin (maybe Sindarin) were the outer names of Sindri, Thrár, Dwálin, and Thrár known to the Easterlings. Vár and Vigdís perhaps were powerful queens, once leaders of their tribes, which legend confused with the fathers Bávor and Thrár.