His people and hobbits share a common ancestor called Stoors, who were hobbit-like, but preferred living on riverbeds, liked boats and even swim. Hobbits are a strain of stoors that preferred to live in holes dug into hilltops, and gradually lost their affinity for water.

However, Tolkien mentions that the hobbits of Buckland and Tuckborough (where Merry and Pippin are from) enjoy boats and don't fear water. This is believed to come from a particularly strong strain of stoorish blood.