Patronymic
A patronymic, or patronym, is a personal name, or component of a personal name, based on the given name of one's father, grandfather, or an earlier male ancestor. It is the male equivalent of a matronymic.
Patronymics are used, by custom or official policy, in many countries worldwide, although elsewhere their use has been replaced by or transformed into patronymic surnames. Examples of such transformations include common English surnames such as Johnson.
Origins of terms
The usual noun and adjective in English is patronymic, but as a noun this exists in free variation alongside patronym. The first part of the word patronym comes from Greek πατήρ patēr 'father' ; the second part comes from Greek ὄνυμα onyma, a variant form of ὄνομα onoma 'name'. In the form patronymic, this stands with the addition of the suffix -ικός, which was originally used to form adjectives with the sense 'pertaining to'. These forms are attested in Hellenistic Greek as πατρώνυμος and πατρωνυμικός. The form patronym, first attested in English in 1834, was borrowed into English from French patronyme, which had previously borrowed the word directly from Greek. Patronymic, first attested in English in 1612, has a more complex history. Both Greek words had entered Latin, and, from Latin, French. The English form patronymic was borrowed through the mutual influence of French and Latin on English.History
In many areas around the world, patronyms predate the use of family names. Family names in many Celtic, Germanic, Iberian, Georgian, Armenian and Slavic languages originate from patronyms, e.g. Wilson, FitzGerald, Powell, Fernández, Rodríguez, Andersson or Andersen, Carlsen, Ilyin, Petrov, Grigorovich, Stefanović, MacAllister and O'Conor. Other cultures which formerly used patronyms have switched to the more widespread style of passing the father's last name to the children as their own.In Iceland, family names are unusual; Icelandic law favours the use of patronyms over family names.
Historical and current use
Africa
Traditionally Muslim and non-Arabic speaking African people, such as Hausa and Fulani people, usually follow the Arab naming pattern. The word or phrase meaning "son of" is, however, omitted. As such, Mohamed son of Ibrahim son of Ahmed is "Mohamed Ibrahim Ahmed", and Mohamed Ibrahim Ahmed's son Ali is "Ali Mohamed Ibrahim".Ethiopia and Eritrea
The naming convention used in Eritrea and Ethiopia does not have family names and surnames. A person is referred to by a single name: this is always the person's given name. Ethiopians and Eritreans use a naming pattern very similar to the Arab naming pattern, but with one exception: no suffix or prefix. The full name of a person is usually two but officially registered with three names. The person's given name comes first, followed by their father's given name and their grandfather's name last. For example, a person named Lemlem Mengesha Abraha has Lemlem as her given name, Mengesha Abraha. The grandfather's name is usually only added in official documents and not used in everyday life. The father's name is not considered a middle name but a last name, without it being a family name or surname. Married women do not take their husband's last name. They continue to go independently by their given name, followed by their father's name, and then their grandfather's name, even after marriage. In both Ethiopia and Eritrea, a person is always addressed by their first name; for example Mrs. Lemlem or Dr. Lemlem.Kenya
Some Kenyan communities used patronyms. As of 2010, the practice has largely dropped off with the use of just the father's last name as a surname.Kalenjin use 'arap' meaning 'son of';
Kikuyu used 'wa' meaning 'of'. Because of polygamy, matronyms were also used and 'wa' used to identify which wife the child was born of;
Maasai use 'ole' meaning 'son of';
Meru use 'mto' abbreviated M' thus son of Mkindia would be M'Mkindia, pronounced Mto Mkindia.
Mozambique
Patronymic naming is very common in parts of Mozambique. Although the practice is not universal, patronymic naming has been documented in the Zambezia province.Nigeria
Although not as prominent as during the pre-colonial period, some Nigerians continue using patronymics — either as a middle name, as the first part of a hyphenated surname, or as a surname. An example of the use of patronymic middle names would be a man named Adamu Abdulkabiru Jibril — whereby "Adamu" would be his given first name, "Abdulkabiru" would be his father's given name as a patronymic middle name, and "Jibril" would be his hereditary family surname. Other people hyphenate their surname to include a patronymic, in which case the example would be named Adamu Abdulkabiru-Jibril with "Abdulkabiru-Jibril" acting as his surname. Using patronymics as the sole surname is also possible, with the example being named Adamu Abdulkabiru with "Abdulkabiru" acting as his surname.Somalia
Somalis use their paternal grandfather's given name as their legal surname for documentation purposes. They also use the term "ina" or "iña" meaning "the son of" or "the daughter of," which is similar to other African and Arab naming patterns. For example, the name "Ahmed Mohamed Ali Farah" means "Ahmed son of Mohamed son of Ali son of Farah." When stating one's lineage, one will say "Ahmed ina Mohamed". To identify themselves and the sub-clan they belong to, Somalis memorize their long lineage back to a common ancestor. Women never adopt their husband's patronym but keep their own for life.South Africa
Among the Zulu, patronymics were used in the pre-colonial era. The prefix "ka" was attached to the father's name, for example Shaka kaSenzangakhona means Shaka son of Senzangakhona. The practice disappeared from everyday use with the introduction of the European-style surname system but still remains part of traditional cultural practices, particularly in the case of chieftains and royalty where reciting lineages forms a part of many ceremonial occasions.Central Asia
Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the citizens of the Central Asian republics have been attempting to de-Russify their surnames and patronymics.Uzbekistan
Though the process of changing or modifying one's full name is not costly or time-consuming, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports that adult Uzbeks do not attempt to de-Russify the "-ovna" and "-ovich" patronymic suffixes to "-qizi" and "-o‘g‘li", though newborns get fully Uzbek names right away.Kazakhstan
In 1996, the law “About procedure for the solution of the questions connected with writing of surnames and middle names of persons of the Kazakh nationality” was introduced in Kazakhstan. It aimed to allow the amendment of surnames and patronymics “in accordance with the historically established traditions of the Kazakh people”. Before Kazakhstan’s independence in 1991, Kazakhs could not hold full names or, as it traditionally was beforehand, use patronymics instead of surnames. Bauyrjan Momyşūly, who refused the surname “Momyshev”, opting for his patronymic, was a notable pre-Independence oppositionist to any Russified naming conventions.At times, the qandas Kazakhs from China and Mongolia may have no patronymic and no surname. This may complicate the process of Kazakh naturalisation.
Kyrgyzstan
In 2022 and 2023, almost 12 thousand Kyrgyz people Russified their surnames to include "-ova" and "-ov". This Russification also extended to patronymics, which were previously gendered as "-kyzy" for women and "-uulu" for men. This wave of Russification is linked to increased migrant work of Kyrgyz people in Russia, where the Kyrgyz naming was unfamiliar and "complicated". The opposing effect is observed as well, one notable example being the 2025 name change of Supreme Council Speaker Nurlanbek Shakiev to Nurlanbek Turgunbek uulu.In June 2023, the Constitutional Court of Kyrgyzstan allowed the usage of a matronymic in "special cases". After social uproar, the Court cancelled its own decision in November of the same year.
Tajikistan
Since 2007, a trend of name de-Russification grew after President Emomali Sharipovich Rakhmonov changed his full name to Emomali Rahmon. Many civil servants followed suit, though, like in Kyrgyzstan, a reverse effect took place later as well, linked to migrant work in Russia.East Asia
Taiwanese Aborigines
's given names are followed by the name of their father; both son and daughter use patronymics.Amis people's sons' given names are also followed by their father's name, while daughters' given names are followed by their mother's name. By contrast, the Seediqs often get to choose which parent's name goes after their own.
Mongolia
's names are preceded by the name of their father and possessive marker; both son and daughter are patronymics.China
Many indigenous ethnic groups in Yunnan, such as Yi, Hani, Jingpo, Jino, Derung, Nu, Wa, Hmong and Yao, use a . Historically, Naxi and Bai have also used the patronymic system. The last one or two syllables of the father's name transfers to become the first one or two syllables of the son's name. The last one or two syllables of the son's name is then used as the first one or two syllables of the grandson's name. The naming tradition is closely tied to Tibeto-Burman traditions.This system can be seen in the names of Nanzhao, Dali and Lijiang rulers.
Nanzhao kings: Xinuluo －Luosheng －Shengluopi －Piluoge －Geluofeng －Fengjiayi －Yimouxun －Xungequan －Quanlongsheng
Dali kings: Duan Zhixiang －Duan Xiangxing －Duan Xingzhi
Regents of Dali Kingdom: Gao Shengtai －Gao Taiming －Gao Mingshun －Gao Shunzhen －Gao Zhenshou －Gao Shouchang
Lijiang chiefs: A-ts'ung A-liang －A-liang A-hu －A-hu A-lieh －A-lieh A-chia －A-chia A-te －A-te A-ch'u －A-ch'u A-t'u －A-t'u A-ti －A-ti A-hsi －A-hsi A-ya －A-ya A-ch'iu －A-ch'iu A-kung －A-kung A-mu －A-mu A-tu －A-tu A-sheng －A-sheng A-chai －A-chai A-ssu －A-ssu A-ch'un －A-ch'un A-su －A-su A-wei －A-wei A-hui －A-hui A-chu