Avunculocal

Avunculocal is a term used in anthropology to describe a post-marital residence pattern where a newly married couple moves to live with or near the husband's maternal uncle. This is distinct from patrilocal residence, where the couple lives with the husband's father, or matrilocal residence, where they live with the wife's mother. In an avunculocal system, the key figure for establishing residence is not the father but the mother's brother.

This residence rule is often associated with matrilineal kinship systems, where descent and inheritance are traced through the female line. The maternal uncle typically holds a position of authority and importance in the family and community. By moving to live with him, the nephew is integrated into his maternal uncle's household and lineage group, learning the customs, responsibilities, and potentially inheriting property or status from that side of the family. The wife, in turn, moves to her husband's uncle's household, becoming part of a new social and economic unit.

Avunculocal residence can facilitate the transfer of certain types of property, such as titles, land, or ritual objects, which are held within the matrilineage. It ensures that these assets remain within the proper line of descent, managed by senior male members of that lineage. While the husband's father might still have influence, the primary social and economic integration for the married couple is with the mother's brother. This system is found in various cultures worldwide, though it is not as common as patrilocal or matrilocal residence.