patronymic
[ pa-truh-nim-ik ]
/ ˌpæ trəˈnɪm ɪk /
adjective
(of family names) derived from the name of a father or ancestor, especially by the addition of a suffix or prefix indicating descent.
(of a suffix or prefix) indicating descent.
noun
a patronymic name, as Williamson (son of William) or Macdonald (son of Donald).
a family name; surname.
Nearby words
patronizing, patronizingly, patronly, patronne, patronym, patronymic, patroon, patrón, patsy, patten, patter
Origin of patronymic
Related formspat·ro·nym·i·cal·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for patronymic
British Dictionary definitions for patronymic
patronymic
/ (ˌpætrəˈnɪmɪk) /
adjective
(of a name) derived from the name of its bearer's father or ancestor. In Western cultures, many surnames are patronymic in origin, as for example Irish names beginning with O' and English names ending with -son; in other cultures, such as Russian, a special patronymic name is used in addition to the surname
noun
a patronymic name
Word Origin for patronymic
C17: via Late Latin from Greek patronumikos, from patēr father + onoma name
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for patronymic
patronymic
1610s, from Late Latin patronymicum, from neuter of patronymicus "derived from a father's name," from patronymos "named from the father," from pater (genitive patros) "father" (see father (n.)) + onyma "name," Aeolic dialectal variant of onoma "name" (see name (n.)). As an adjective from 1660s.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper