Definitions

1. adjective

relating to or derived from a woman’s name, especially the name of a woman who is the wife or mother of a person mentioned or alluded to.

“The metronymic surname ‘Docherty’ is derived from the Gaelic word ‘dochartaig’, meaning ‘black thorn’, and is associated with the wife of a Scottish laird.”

2. noun

a name or word derived from a woman’s name, especially the name of a woman who is the wife or mother of a person mentioned or alluded to.

“In some cultures, metronymic names were used to indicate a person’s relationship to their mother or maternal relatives.”