Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
👨‍👦 A father's surname 👨‍👦 From father's name
patronymic

patronymic

9.1
A name that comes from a father's name, often with a prefix or suffix added
  • adjective
  • /ˌpeɪtrəˈnɪmɪk/
  • Specialized
translation icon : patronímico
  • The study focused on the use of patronymic naming systems in different regions.

Examples

  • In many cultures, a patronymic surname is inherited from the father.

  • Icelandic last names are often patronymic, reflecting the father's first name.

  • A patronymic is common in many cultures.

  • Many cultures have a patronymic naming system.

  • Iceland is known for its unique patronymic naming system, where children's names are based on their father's first name.

  • In many cultures, a patronymic name indicates lineage and can reveal information about family heritage.

  • The child's patronymic name included a suffix, showing he was the son of his father, Jon.

Synonyms

eponymic
vspatronymic
9.8

Relating to something named after a person

refers specifically to names formed from a father's or ancestor's name by affix

Surface Forms

patronymic positive

Morphology

patronymic = patronym (opaque) = patronym + ic

The element 'patronym' and the combining forms (patro-/‑onym) are rare/technical and not familiar to a typical B1 learner, so the relation is not readily inferable.

Etymology

Patronymic comes from the parts patr- meaning 'father' and -onym meaning 'name'. So, it describes a name that is made from a father's name.