Matronym vs. Patronymic — What's the Difference?

The name of someone's mother.

A patronymic, or patronym, is a component of a personal name based on the given name of one's father, grandfather (avonymic), or an earlier male ancestor. A component of a name based on the name of one's mother or a female ancestor is a matronymic.

A matronymic surname.

Of, relating to, or derived from the name of one's father or a paternal ancestor.

A name so derived.

Derived from one's father.

(by extension) Derived from one's ancestors.

A name acquired from one's father.

(by extension) A name acquired from one's father's, grandfather's or earlier (male) ancestor's first name. Some cultures use a patronymic where other cultures use a surname or family name; other cultures (like Russia) use both a patronymic and a surname.

Derived from ancestors; as, a patronymic denomination.

A modification of the father's name borne by the son; a name derived from that of a parent or ancestor; as, Pelides, the son of Peleus; Johnson, the son of John; Macdonald, the son of Donald; Paulowitz, the son of Paul; also, the surname of a family; the family name.

A name derived with an affix (such as -son in English or O'- in Irish) from the name of your father or a paternal ancestor

Of a patronymic name