Patronymics

Patronymics are personal names derived from the given name of a father or paternal ancestor, used to indicate lineage. The word patronymic comes from Greek roots meaning father's name. In many traditional societies, a patronymic functioned as a primary identifier rather than a fixed family surname, with the form changing from generation to generation.

In Scandinavian regions, patronymics are commonly formed by adding a suffix that means “son of” or “daughter of,” such as -son or -dottir. Iceland is notable for continuing to use such forms as the standard names for individuals, with no universally fixed family surname. In these systems the same name can change from generation to generation.

Other language traditions incorporate patronymics as middle names. In Russian, Ukrainian, and some other Slavic languages, a patronymic names the bearer as son or daughter of the father and is used with the given name in formal address (for example, Aleksandrovich for a son of Alexander, Aleksandrovna for a daughter). In many Arabic and Hebrew naming patterns, words meaning “son of” or “daughter of” appear in the full name alongside a family surname.

Patronymics may later become hereditary surnames in some cultures, blurring the line between given name and family name. Some cultures also use matronymics, formed from the mother’s name, though this is less common today. Overall, patronymics illustrate how personal naming systems can encode kinship and social organization rather than simply serving as a fixed identifier.