What does patrilinear mean?
Patrilinear is an adjective describing descent, inheritance, or kinship that follows the male line, usually through fathers. It is especially associated with anthropology, genealogy, and the study of customary social organization. In a patrilineal system, a person's descent, group membership, or property rights may be traced through paternal relationships, whether or not those relationships carry equal social importance. The adjective is formal and specialized, but it is also used in broader family-history writing. A patrilineal genealogy follows fathers and their male ancestors, whereas a matrilineal genealogy follows mothers. The term is useful because it identifies a pattern of descent rather than implying that paternal and maternal lines are always treated alike. It also helps distinguish inheritance structures from a simple list of biological ancestors, in which both parents are normally represented.
adjectiveRelating to descent, inheritance, or kinship traced through the male line, especially through fathers. In anthropology and genealogy, it describes systems in which descent or membership is determined through paternal links.
- Relating to descent, inheritance, or kinship traced through the male line, especially through fathers.
"In a patrilineal society, kinship and inheritance are traced through the father's line."
"The research examined patrilineal descent in several pastoral communities."
"His patrilineal genealogy lists each father and his male ancestors in turn."
Patrilineal turns the family tree into a line by tracing descent through fathers.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does patrilinear come from?
Patrilinear was formed in English from elements traceable to Latin pater, meaning “father,” and linea, meaning “line” or “row,” with the sense “of or through the father's line.” The compound had established English usage by the 19th century. Its relatives paternal and patronymic continue the father root, the latter through Greek, while lineal and lineage continue the line root.
Related word forms
How patrilinear is actually used
The term is formal and especially associated with anthropology, genealogy, history, and legal or customary systems of inheritance. It does not necessarily imply that paternal relationships are considered more important than maternal ones.
Easily confused with patrilinear
Patrilineal describes descent or succession through fathers, whereas matrilineal describes descent or succession through mothers.
Patrilineal is the standard adjective spelling; patrilineal is a fully established variant with the same meaning.