Unilateral Descent (Noun)
Meaning
Line of descent traced through one side of the family.
Classification
Nouns denoting relations between people or things or ideas.
Examples
- The royal family's system of unilateral descent meant that the throne was passed down through the male line only.
- Genealogists often study the unilateral descent of surnames to track the migration patterns of different families.
- In some cultures, property and titles are passed down through unilateral descent, favoring one side of the family over the other.
- The clan's history was marked by a complex system of unilateral descent, with different branches tracing their lineage to different ancestors.
- Anthropologists have identified patterns of unilateral descent in several societies around the world, often linked to issues of land ownership and social status.