A patronymic, or patronym, is a personal name, or component of a personal name, based on the given name of one's father, grandfather (more specifically an avonymic),Willy van Langendonck. 2007. Theory and Typology of Proper Names. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter, p. 275.Eichler, Ernst et al. (eds.). 1995. Namenforschung. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, p. 488. 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Patronymics are used, by custom or official policy, in many countries worldwide, although elsewhere their use has been replaced by or transformed into patronymic surnames.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 (son of John).
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' (GEN πατρός patros whence the combining form πατρο- patro-);. 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 (-ikos), which was originally used to form adjectives with the sense 'pertaining to' (thus 'pertaining to the father's name'). These forms are attested in Hellenistic Greek as πατρώνυμος (patrōnymos) and πατρωνυμικός (patrōnymikos)., . 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."patronym, n."; "patronymic, n. and adj.", OED online (3rd edition). March 2018. Oxford University Press.
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 (son of William), FitzGerald (son of Gerald), Powell (from "ap Hywel"), Fernández (son of Fernando), Rodríguez (son of Rodrigo), Andersson or Andersen (son of Anders, Scandinavian form of Andrew), Carlsen (son of Carl), Ilyin (of Ilya), Petrov (of Peter), Grigorovich (son of Grigory, Russian form of Gregory), Stefanović (son of Stefan, little Stefan), MacAllister (from "mac Alistair", meaning son of Alistair, anglicized Scottish form of Alexander) and O'Conor (from "Ó Conchobhair", meaning grandson/descendant of Conchobhar). Other cultures which formerly used patronyms have switched to the more widespread style of passing the father's last name to the children (and wife) as their own. In Iceland, family names are unusual; Icelandic law favours the use of patronyms (and more recently, matronyms) over family names.
Historical and current use
Africa Traditionally Muslim and non-Arabic speaking African people, such as Hausa and Fulani people, usually (with some exceptions) 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, similarly to neighbouring Somalia and Sudan. 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 (optionally, for official purposes) their grandfather's name last. For example, a person named Lemlem Mengesha Abraha has Lemlem as her given name, Mengesha (from her father's name) Abraha (grandfather's name). 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, 'wa' was also used with matronyms); Maasai use 'ole' meaning 'son of'; Meru use 'mto' (abbreviated M'; for example, 'son of Mkindia' would be 'M'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 (particularly in the North) 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 A Somali's full name is their given name followed by their father's given name, then their paternal grandfather's given name – the same naming convention used in neighbouring Eritrea and Ethiopia. Thus. they do not have a surname. Somalis traditionally use the first and second names to address someone. Somalis use their paternal grandfather's given name as their legal surname for documentation purposes. In formal address, they can 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" (meaning Ahmed, the son of 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.
South Sudan South Sudanese generally follow Arabic naming customs in practicing patronymic naming, customarily with four names (a personal name followed by the person's father's name, paternal grandfather's name and patrilineal great-grandfather's name). South Sudanese nationality regulations adopted after independence in 2011 require witnesses of this family line. This system is complicated by baptismal names, which are often added by members of the Dinka and Nuer, the principal ethnic groups of South Sudan. Baptismal names are inconsistently retained by descendants. Out-of-wedlock births are another complicating factor. South Sudanese born out of wedlock may have their name attested by a maternal uncle and on the uncle's and his ancestors' patronymics. Personal names are often given after a relative or may reflect the circumstances of a person's birth. Among the Dinka, Nuer and Shilluk, boys and girls born during war are often named Tong and Atong, respectively.
Sudan Sudanese also follow Arabic naming customs in practicing patronymic naming, customarily with three or four names (a personal name followed by the person's father's name, paternal grandfather's name and patrilineal great-grandfather's name). Most Sudanese also have a clan or family name, prefaced by "Al-" or "El-", which does not function as a surname. Muslim Sudanese women generally do not adopt a name from their husbands. In Western countries, Sudanese may use one of their patronymics or their clan name as a surname for administrative purposes, but these are not considered surnames in Sudan. When a surname is needed, it is most common to adopt the grandfather's name.
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 12,000 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 Atayal people's given names are followed by the name of their father; both sons and daughters 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 Mongol people's names are preceded by the name of their father and possessive marker; both sons and daughters use patronymics.
China