Page "Family name" Paragraph 4

In this article, family name and surname both mean the patrilineal ( literally, father-line ) surname, handed down from or inherited from the father's line or patriline, unless explicitly stated otherwise.

Thus, the term " maternal surname " means the patrilineal surname which one's mother inherited from either or both of her parents.

Matrilineal (' mother-line ') surnames, passing from mothers to daughters, are discussed elsewhere to avoid complicating this large article.