[pa-truh-nim-ik] 
| 1. | (of family names) derived from the name of a father or ancestor, esp. by the addition of a suffix or prefix indicating descent. |
| 2. | (of a suffix or prefix) indicating descent. |
| 3. | a patronymic name, as Williamson (son of William) or Macdonald (son of Donald). |
| 4. | a family name; surname. |
| pat·ro·nym·ic (pāt'rə-nĭm'ĭk) adj. Of, relating to, or derived from the name of one's father or a paternal ancestor. n. A name so derived. [Late Latin patrōnymicus, from Greek patrōnumikos, from patrōnumos, named after one's father : patēr, patr-, father + onuma, name; see n  -men- in Indo-European roots.]pat'ro·nym'i·cal·ly adv. |
patronymic
name derived from that of a father or paternal ancestor, usually by the addition of a suffix or prefix meaning "son." Thus the Scottish name MacDonald originally meant "son of Donald." Usually the "son" affix is attached to a baptismal name, but it is also possible to attach it to the father's occupation (e.g., Clerkson). Sometimes a patronymic is simply the father's given name (Thomas, Edward) or its genitive form (Edwards)
Learn more about patronymic with a free trial on Britannica.com.
trəˈnɪm
nym(os)