How Are Frodo, Pippin, And Merry Actually Related?
Meriadoc Brandybuck (aka Merry) is referred to as Frodos friend when he first shows up in J.R.R. Tolkiens writings. However, Frodo himself is more than half Brandybuck by blood, and both hail from the same larger family tree, making the two fellows close relatives. Most of Frodos Brandybuck blood comes from his mother, Primula Brandybuck.