A patronymic is a surname formed from the name of the owner's father or a paternal ancestor, used by a culture in place of a family name that is handed down from generation to generation. As an interesting note, while some cultures exist that do use matronymics (names derived from one's mother), more often in a culture that uses patronymics, taking such a name is a sign of illegitimacy. Taken to extremes, can easily form the basis for an Overly Long Name. See also I Am X, Son of Y Examples of Patronymic include: