Patronym (Noun)
Meaning
A family name derived from name of your father or a paternal ancestor (especially with an affix (such as -son in English or O'- in Irish) added to the name of your father or a paternal ancestor).
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- His surname 'Harrison' is a patronym derived from his ancestor's name, indicating he is the son of Harry.
- Many Irish surnames are patronyms, such as O'Connor, which means 'descendant of Connor'.
- In many cultures, the patronym is created by adding 'son' or 'sen' to the father's name, as seen in 'Johnson' or 'Hansson'.
- The patronym system is still used in some Arabic countries, where the person's surname is based on their father's name.
- A classic example of a patronym is the English surname 'Jenson', meaning 'son of Jens'.