patrilineal
patrilineal A term used in kinship theory to denote the tracing of kinship through the male line. The term agnatic is also used. A patrilineal group is a descent group that traces its ancestry to a single male ancestor and acts as a corporate group for political purposes. Patrilineal systems depend on the principle of passing on property and status from father to legitimate son. However, like legitimacy, membership of a lineage may not only be through actual blood ties but can be socially ascribed.
More From encyclopedia.com
About this article
patrilineal
All Sources -
You Might Also Like
NEARBY TERMS
patrilineal