Patrilineal

Patrilineal refers to a system in which lineage, inheritance, and family identity are traced through the father’s side of the family. In patrilineal societies, children receive their family name from their father, and property or titles are typically passed down from fathers to sons. This contrasts with matrilineal systems, where lineage is traced through the mother. Patrilineal structures can influence social roles, inheritance laws, and even cultural norms, emphasizing the importance of the father’s family in determining an individual's background and status within a community.