Patrilineal descent is a system of lineage in which family inheritance and heritage are traced through the father's line. It emphasizes the importance of male relatives in property rights, surname inheritance, and ancestry.
Related terms
Matrilineal Descent: A lineage system where inheritance and family ties are traced through the mother's line.
The web of social relationships that form an important part of the lives of all humans in all societies, including familial bonds beyond direct descent.
A social system in which males hold primary power and predominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege, and control of property