Huor was the second son of Galdor and younger brother of Húrin. His name meant "heart-vigour".

He was one of the tallest of the Edain and had the blue eyes and golden hair of his house.

When Huor was only 13, the brothers were involved in a fight with Orcs in Brethil. The company they were in was separated from the rest of the party, and eventually they wandered through the mist and the hills into Gondolin. Húrin and Huor then dwelt for a year with Turgon. Turgon let them go under the oath that they would never tell anyone where they had been. So they returned to Dor-lómin.

When Huor reached manhood, he married Rían, daughter of Belegund. They were expecting a son by the time of the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, and Huor had already named him Tuor before his birth.

At the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Huor held the ranks with his brother and guarded the flank of Turgon ensuring the success of his escape to Gondolin. Towards the end of the battle, he was shot with a poisoned arrow in the eye and died.