A patronymic is a name derived from the name of a father or ancestor, often indicating lineage. In many cultures, this naming convention helps identify family heritage and can reflect social status. For example, in Iceland, surnames like "Jónsson" (son of Jón) or "Jónsdóttir" (daughter of Jón) are common. Patronymics can vary in form and usage across different cultures. In Russia, for instance, a patronymic is created by adding a suffix to the father's first name, such as "Ivanovich" for sons and "Ivanovna" for daughters, signifying "son of Ivan" or "daughter of Ivan."