There's some pretty strong evidence that "hobbits" existed in prior works and tales to Tolkeins. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobbit_(word)#Evidence_of_earlier

There's some pretty strong evidence that "hobbits" existed in prior works and tales to Tolkeins. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobbit_(word)#Evidence_of_earlier_use http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobbit_(word)#Evidence_of_earli... OED has not, even after all this time, granted him "invention" of the term, despite long inquiries into its origins.