A name derived from the name of your mother or a maternal ancestor

Wiktionary Word definitions in Wiktionary
a. Of, relating to, or derived from the given name of one's mother or a female ancestor. n. A surname or byname acquired from the given name of one's mother's or from a female ancestor's given name.

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary Word definitions in Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
1794, a hybrid from Latin mater (see mother (n.1)) + Greek-based ending from patronymic . As an adjective from 1874.

The Collaborative International Dictionary Word definitions in The Collaborative International Dictionary
Matronymic \Mat`ro*nym"ic\, n. [L. mater mother + -nymic, as in patronimic.] See Metronymic .

WordNet Word definitions in WordNet
n. a name derived from the name of your mother or a maternal ancestor [syn: metronymic ]

Wikipedia Word definitions in Wikipedia
A matronymic is a personal name based on the given name of one's mother, grandmother, or any female ancestor. It is the female equivalent of a patronymic . In most societies, matronymic surnames are far less common than patronymic surnames . In the past, ...