descendents

Descendents, or descendants, are individuals who are descended from a particular ancestor. The singular is descendant, and the standard plural in modern usage is descendants; descendents is an infrequent variant spelling.

In genealogy and family history, a person’s descendants include children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and further generations. A family tree or pedigree traces lines of descent from ancestors to living relatives.

Different systems of descent organize groups around kinship. Patrilineal, matrilineal, and bilateral (or cognatic) descent describe how ancestry is recognized or transmitted through paternal, maternal, or both lines. Descent groups can shape inheritance, residence, and social roles in some cultures.

In biology and anthropology, the term describes organisms sharing a lineage from a common ancestor. Descendants preserve genetic information and can evolve through generations; the concept is central to studying evolution, heredity, and phylogenetic relationships.

For historical or legal contexts, the status of descendants can influence rights, duties, or succession, though the specifics depend on jurisdiction and custom.

Related topics include ancestry, lineage, pedigree, kinship, and genealogical research.