from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Patronymic \Pa`tro*nym"ic\, n. [Gr. patrwnymiko`n.]
A modification of the father's name borne by the son; a name
derived from that of a parent or ancestor; as, Pelides, the
son of Peleus; Johnson, the son of John; Macdonald, the son
of Donald; Paulowitz, the son of Paul; also, the surname of a
family; the family name. --M. A. Lower.
[1913 Webster]
Note: In Russia, the patronymic is taken routinely as a
middle name, and is commonly used together with the
given name in addressing people with whom one is
familiar, thus Ivan Ivanovich would be commonly used to
address Ivan, whose father was Ivan; likewise Boris
Michaelovich would address Boris the son of Michael,
and Lena Ivanova would address Lena, the daughter of
Ivan.
[PJC]