[ **up: [[Anthropology]] | [[Kinship]]** ] --- # Matrilocal > In social anthropology, matrilocal residence or matrilocality (also uxorilocal residence or uxorilocality) is the societal system in which a married couple resides with or near the wife’s parents.[^1] --- ## History ### Britain #### Iron Age > Study highlights role of women in Celtic Britain and challenges assumptions most societies were patrilocal.[^2] In 2025, scientists reported discovering that DNA from the remains of individuals in the Iron Age in Britain showed evidence that men had moved to join their wives’ families.[^3] [[2025-0316. 'In a lot of societies today and in the past, women wield huge influence and huge power, and it’s good to remember that.'|'In a lot of societies today and in the past, women wield huge influence and huge power, and it’s good to remember that,” she said.']][^4] [^1]: ‘Matrilocal residence’, *Wikipedia*, updated 16 January 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matrilocal_residence. [^3]: Nichola Davis, ‘Iron age men left home to join wives’ families, DNA study suggests’, *The Guardian*, 16 January 2025, https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/jan/15/iron-age-men-left-home-join-wives-families-dna-study-reveals. [^2]: Nichola Davis, ‘Iron age men left home to join wives’ families, DNA study suggests’, *The Guardian*, 16 January 2025, https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/jan/15/iron-age-men-left-home-join-wives-families-dna-study-reveals. [^4]: Nichola Davis, ‘Iron age men left home to join wives’ families, DNA study suggests’, *The Guardian*, 16 January 2025, https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/jan/15/iron-age-men-left-home-join-wives-families-dna-study-reveals.