noun
a family name derived from name of your father or a paternal ancestor (especially with an affix (such as -son in English or O'- in Irish) added to the name of your father or a paternal ancestor)
• Syn: ↑patronymic
• Derivationally related forms: ↑patronymic, ↑patronymic (for: ↑patronymic)
• Regions: ↑Ireland, ↑Hibernia, ↑Emerald Isle
• Hypernyms: ↑name
Useful english dictionary. 2012.