1. names derived from the name of a mother or female ancestor
Usage: linguistics; anthropology

Examples

• In some cultures, matronymics are used instead of patronymics to trace family lineage.
• The researcher studied matronymics in ancient matriarchal societies.
• Matronymics often include suffixes that indicate ‘daughter of’ or ‘descendant of’.
• Some Scandinavian surnames originated as matronymics rather than patronymics.
• The anthropologist documented how matronymics functioned in that particular tribe.
• Matronymics can provide valuable insights into historical family structures.