Gens (anthropology)

Gens was used by Lewis H. Morgan (in Ancient Society) and Friedrich Engels (in The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State), among others, to refer to a group of people who were related through their female ancestor (which was the basis of mother right). Confusingly, it is also used to refer to groups of people who are related through their male ancestor by other anthropology writers.[1]

References

1. "Gens". The Free Dictionary. Retrieved 12 August 2014.