User blog comment:Gott wisst/Hypothesis about why B. J. is wrong about J. R. R. Tolkien/@comment-1209332-20090424005958

Not sure. I think the idea of Hobbits (not the name) was around before Tolkein. I see no reason why he didn't come up with the name. Still, renaming something dosen't make it original (I mean, look at Eragon!)