patrilineage
Male descent chain
Patrilineage is descent traced through the father's line—ancestry reckoned through male relatives.
In societies organized by patrilineage, inheritance, family name, and group membership pass from father to children: In many cultures, patrilineage determines clan affiliation.
The concept is central to anthropology and kinship studies.
Compare matrilineage, which traces descent through mothers.
Ancestral predecessors
- fatherMale parent
- grandfatherFather's or mother's father
- great-grandfatherGrandparent's father
- progenitorAncestor or originator
paterfamilias · sire · begetter · ancestors · filiation · kinship · clan · gens
Eldest inherits all
- surnameHereditary family identifier
- heirloomInherited family treasure
- inheritanceProperty received from ancestors
- dynastySuccessive family rulers
titles · estate · birthright · succession · entail · peerage · patrimony · heraldry
Male-determining genetic unit
- genealogyStudy of family descent
- pedigreeRecord of descent
- haplogroupGenetic ancestry classification
Union outside one's clan
- bride-pricePayment for marriage rights
- levirateWidow marries husband's brother
- casteInherited social division
forefathers
Ancestral predecessors
- fatherMale parent
- grandfatherFather's or mother's father
- great-grandfatherGrandparent's father
progenitor · paterfamilias · sire · begetter · ancestors · filiation · kinship · clan · gens · house
primogeniture
Eldest inherits all
- surnameHereditary family identifier
- heirloomInherited family treasure
- inheritanceProperty received from ancestors
dynasty · titles · estate · birthright · succession · entail · peerage · patrimony · heraldry
Y-chromosome
Male-determining genetic unit
- genealogyStudy of family descent
- pedigreeRecord of descent
- haplogroupGenetic ancestry classification
exogamy
Union outside one's clan
- bride-pricePayment for marriage rights
- levirateWidow marries husband's brother
- casteInherited social division
patrilineagematrilineage
Kinship through maternal ancestors
matriliny · matriline · mother's line · maternal lineage · female line