patronymic Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun 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)
    patronym.
  2. adjective of or derived from a personal or family name

WordNet

Pa`tro*nym"ic adjective
Etymology
L. patronymicus, Gr. father + name: cf. F. patronymique.
Definitions
  1. Derived from ancestors; as, a patronymic denomination.
Pa`tro*nym"ic noun
Etymology
Gr. .
Definitions
  1. 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 son of Paul; also, the surname of a family; the family name. M. A. Lower.

Webster 1913