matronym/matronymic

referring to a name derived from the mother or a maternal ancestor, these are correct sex-specific terms. They also have a little-recognized history: the practice of passing the father's name on to the children hasn't always been in force nor is it universally practiced in the Western world. Nelson is "Nell's son," Allison is "Alice's son," and Babson is "Barbara's son." Spanish children have their mother's names as well as their father's. In Russia, a child can take either parent's surname. Charles Panati (Browser's Book of Beginnings) says, "Seemingly, when surnames originated, few traces of male chauvinism historically were involved." See also hyphenated surnames, patronym/patronymic, surnames.