MATRICLAN Meaning and
Definition
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A matriclan is a social organization or group that is based on matrilineal lineage, meaning it is formed by tracing descent through the female line. The concept of matriclan is commonly found in societies that follow matrilineal kinship systems, where individuals are primarily identified by their maternal ancestry. The term is derived from the combination of "matri," referring to mothers or female lineage, and "clan," which denotes a group or kinship unit.
In a matriclan, an individual's membership and social identity are determined by their mother's line of descent. This means that children belong to the matriclan of their mother and are considered part of her kinship group. Matrilocal residence patterns, where a married couple resides with or near the wife's family, often accompany matriclan structures.
Matriclans play crucial roles in various aspects of social life, including inheritance, property rights, and kinship obligations. They form the basis for understanding familial relationships and connections within the community. Matriclans typically organize important ceremonies, regulate marriages and divorces, and arbitrate conflicts within the group.
It is important to note that the concept of matriclan should not be conflated with a patriarchal or patrilocal system, where descent and kinship are traced through the male line. Matriclans provide a framework for understanding the significance of maternal relationships and emphasize the pivotal role of women in societal organization and cohesion.
Common Misspellings for MATRICLAN
- natriclan
- katriclan
- jatriclan
- mztriclan
- mstriclan
- mwtriclan
- mqtriclan
- marriclan
- mafriclan
- magriclan
- mayriclan
- ma6riclan
- ma5riclan
- mateiclan
- matdiclan
- matficlan
- matticlan
- mat5iclan
- mat4iclan
- matruclan
Etymology of MATRICLAN
The term "matriclan" is derived from two root words: "matri", which comes from the Latin word "mater" meaning "mother", and "clan", which is of Scottish Gaelic origin meaning "family" or "kinship group".
"Matriclan" refers to a social organization or descent group within certain societies that is based on the mother's lineage. It is commonly used in anthropology to describe a kinship system where individuals trace their ancestry and inheritance through their mother's line, rather than their father's.
The term was coined in the early 20th century by anthropologists studying societies with matrilineal descent systems, where inheritance and family ties are passed down through the female line. The combination of "matri" and "clan" aptly describes the central concept of tracing kinship and social identity through the maternal side.
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