The former method is termed matrilineal, the latter patrilineal.

It sometimes, but by no means invariably, happens, when descent is counted matrilineally, that the wife stays with her people, and the husband has the status of a mere visitor and alien.

In such a case the marriage is called matrilocal; otherwise it is patrilocal.

Again, when the matrilocal type of marriage prevails, as likewise often when it does not, the wife and her people, rather than the father and his people, exercise supreme authority over the children.

This is known as the matripotestal, as contrasted with the patripotestal, type of family.