Final answer:
The resulting group in patrilineal descent is called a lineage, which comprises individuals related through male ancestors. This forms the basis of clan and moiety structures within a society. Patrilineal descent is contrasted with matrilineal and ambilineal systems.
Step-by-step explanation:
In patrilineal descent, the resulting group is called a lineage. This lineage includes all individuals, both male and female, who trace their descent exclusively through male ancestors. In these societies, males generally carry on the family surname, marking a continuous line from a common ancestor. Consequently, this lineage serves as a fundamental social structure by which individuals relate to a larger kinship group.
Lineages can amalgamate to form clans, which are larger kinship groups signifying a symbolic relationship among lineages that presume common ancestry. Clans may further group into moieties, dividing a tribe or society into two broad kinship categories. Patrilineal descent is still prevalent in various societies around the world, including rural parts of China and India, and influences name and inheritance customs even in places like the United States.
Moreover, patrilineal systems contrast with matrilineal descent, where the descent line follows female ancestors, and ambilineal systems, where descent can be traced through either parent, depending on specific societal rules or personal choice.