Teknonymy

Teknonymy is a form of naming in which a parent is referred to by the name of one or more of their children. The term combines teknon, meaning child, and onoma, meaning name. In teknonymic speech, a father may be addressed as “the father of Kwesi” and a mother as “the mother of Kwesi,” with the exact wording varying by language and culture.

In many societies, teknonymy operates as a traditional system of address rather than an everyday surname; it can function as a social marker of kinship, authority, and lineage. In some communities the teknonym refers to the eldest child, while in others it can refer to a most recently born child or a child who has attained a particular status. The form may be used in formal speech, in everyday conversation, or in ceremonial contexts.

Geographic and cultural range: teknonymy has been documented in various African, Oceanian, and some Asian cultures, though its use and rules differ widely. It interacts with gender roles, with both fathers and mothers sometimes using teknonyms, and in some cases with men’s and women’s titles evolving over a family’s history.

Scholarly interest: linguists and anthropologists study teknonymy as part of kinship terminology, indexical speech, and social structure. It highlights how family relationships are made communicable through language.

See also: kinship terminology, naming practices, patronyms, matronyms.