patronym
Name from father
A patronym is a name derived from one's father or paternal ancestor.
Johnson means "son of John"; MacDonald means "son of Donald"; Ivanovich means "son of Ivan." Many surnames originated as patronyms.
The practice varies across cultures—some use prefixes (Mac-, O'-), others suffixes (-son, -ovich, -ez).
Compare matronym, derived from the mother's name.
Family line of descent
- lineageDescent from progenitors
- descentDownward slope or lineage
- heritageInherited cultural legacy
- bloodlineAncestry through generations
genealogy · kinship · forebears · progenitors · dynasty · clan · tribe · family tree
Hereditary family identifier
- family nameHereditary portion of identity
- last nameHereditary family identifier
- cognomenFamily name or nickname
- appellationName or title given
byname · metronymic · clan name · birth name · naming convention · nomenclature · designation
ancestry
Family line of descent
bloodline · genealogy · kinship · forebears · progenitors · dynasty · clan · tribe · family tree · pedigree
surname
Hereditary family identifier
- family nameHereditary portion of identity
- last nameHereditary family identifier
- cognomenFamily name or nickname
appellation · byname · metronymic · clan name · birth name · naming convention · nomenclature · designation
patronymoccupational name
Surname indicating ancestral profession
place name · nickname · eponym · given name · surname