0 a name that is based on the given name (= the name given at birth) of someone's father or one of their father's ancestors:
1 (of a name) based on the given name (= the name given at birth) of someone's father or one of their father's ancestors:
A patronymic can be based on a full name (William-s) or a nickname (Will-s).
Many family names are patronymics, so called because they are based on the first name of some long-ago father.
Pressed by journalists, the guide still refuses to give his name, offering only his first name and patronymic, "Valery Georgiyevich".
Paulsen is a Scandinavian patronymic surname, from the given name Paul.
"Respected Vladimir Vladimirovich!" read the letter, using the president's patronymic middle name as a show of respect.
In the past, most European Jews didn't have surnames, instead taking patronymic names such as "David, son of Saul".
