patronymic

patronymic
/pa'treuh nim"ik/, adj.
1. (of family names) derived from the name of a father or ancestor, esp. by the addition of a suffix or prefix indicating descent.
2. (of a suffix or prefix) indicating descent.
n.
3. a patronymic name, as Williamson (son of William) or Macdonald (son of Donald).
4. a family name; surname.
[1605-15; < LL patronymicus < Gk patronymikós equiv. to patrónym(os) patronymic (see PATRI-, -ONYM) + -ikos -IC]

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       name derived from that of a father or paternal ancestor, usually by the addition of a suffix or prefix meaning “son.” Thus the Scottish name MacDonald originally meant “son of Donald.” Usually the “son” affix is attached to a baptismal name, but it is also possible to attach it to the father's occupation (e.g., Clerkson). Sometimes a patronymic is simply the father's given name (Thomas, Edward) or its genitive form (Edwards).

      In some cultures the patronymic varies according to the sex of the child receiving it: in Russia, where everyone has a patronymic as well as a given name and surname, sons receive a patronymic ending in -ovich (e.g., Ivanovich) and daughters a form ending in -ovna (e.g., Ivanovna). A similar situation holds true in Norway.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Patronymic — Pa tro*nym ic ( n[i^]m [i^]k), a. [L. patronymicus, Gr. patrwnymiko s; path r father + o noma name: cf. F. patronymique.] Derived from ancestors; as, a patronymic denomination. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Patronymic — Pa tro*nym ic, n. [Gr. patrwnymiko n.] A modification of the father s name borne by the son; a name derived from that of a parent or ancestor; as, Pelides, the son of Peleus; Johnson, the son of John; Macdonald, the son of Donald; Paulowitz, the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • patronymic — [pa΄trə nim′ik] adj. [LL patronymicus < Gr patrōnymikos < patēr,FATHER + onyma,NAME] 1. derived from the name of a father or ancestor 2. showing such descent [a patronymic suffix] n. 1. a name showing descent from a given person as by the… …   English World dictionary

  • patronymic — index call (title) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • patronymic — (n.) 1610s, from L.L. patronymicum, from neut. of patronymicus derived from a father s name, from patronymos named from the father, from pater (gen. patros) father + onyma name …   Etymology dictionary

  • Patronymic — A patronym, or patronymic, is a component of a personal name based on the name of one s father, grandfather or an even earlier male ancestor. A component of a name based on the name of one s mother or a female ancestor is a matronymic. Each is a… …   Wikipedia

  • patronymic — 1. adjective Derived from ancestors; as, a patronymic denomination. 2. noun name acquired from ones fathers, grandfathers or earlier male ancestors first name. Some cultures use a patronymic where other cultures use a surname or family name;… …   Wiktionary

  • patronymic — noun Etymology: ultimately from Greek patronymia patronymic, from patr + onyma name more at name Date: 1612 a name derived from that of the father or a paternal ancestor usually by the addition of an affix • patronymic adjective …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • patronymic — noun (C) technical a name formed from the name of your father, grandfather etc patronymic adjective …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • patronymic — pat•ro•nym•ic [[t]ˌpæ trəˈnɪm ɪk[/t]] n. 1) ling. a name derived from the name of a father or ancestor, esp. by the addition of a suffix or prefix indicating descent, as Williamson (son of William) or Macdonald (son of Donald) 2) ling. (of a… …   From formal English to slang

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