patronymic

noun

pat·​ro·​nym·​ic ˌpa-trə-ˈni-mik 

: a name derived from that of the father or a paternal ancestor usually by the addition of an affix

patronymic adjective

Did you know?

A patronymic, or patronym, is generally formed by adding a prefix or suffix to a name. Thus, a few centuries ago, the male patronymic of Patrick was Fitzpatrick ("Patrick's son"), that of Peter was Peterson or Petersen, that of Donald was MacDonald or McDonald, and that of Hernando was Hernández. Today, of course, each of these is an ordinary family name, or surname. In Russia, both a patronymic and a surname are still used; in the name Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, for example, Ilyich is a patronymic meaning "son of Ilya".

Examples of patronymic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The list of those who left includes individuals' names, birth dates, patronymics and more, and identifies contract soldiers, mobilized soldiers, and conscripts. —Matt Robison, Newsweek, 20 Nov. 2024

In Oakland and Macomb, gritty unknown challengers are taking on two potent political patronymics: Servitto and O’Brien. —Bill Laytner, Detroit Free Press, 7 Oct. 2024

Dubrova said in the interview, using her formal name with patronymic. —Jeanne Whalen, Anchorage Daily News, 10 Apr. 2022

Tetyana, who identified herself by her first name and patronymic but did not give her family name, was released after being held for four days. —Byreuters, ABC News, 5 Apr. 2022

But Arkady, as everyone at Yandex calls him, Western-style, shorn of the formal Russian patronymic, now more or less lives with his family in Israel. —Paul Starobin, Wired, 22 Mar. 2022

Customers who used to buy 1 kilogram of tvorog, a dairy product similar to cottage cheese, are now taking 200 or 300 grams, said a 69-year-old stall holder in a black fur hat who gave her name and patronymic, Valentina Mykhailivna. —James Marson, WSJ, 24 Jan. 2022

The only hint was the moderator’s formal reference to her by her first name and patronymic – Katerina Vladimirovna. —Washington Post, 5 June 2021

Russians have three names; a first name, a patronymic (or a middle name that is based on their father’s first name) and a last name. —Denise Davidsonwriter, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 July 2019

Word History

Etymology

ultimately from Greek patronymia patronymic, from patr- + onyma name — more at name

First Known Use

1612, in the meaning defined above