The state of being the firstborn of the same parents; seniority by birth among children of the same family
The system, employed in England and elsewhere, under which the eldest son, or in default of same, the senior living male relative, succeeds to a title (a qualified system exists in European monarchies whereby the eldest daughter can succeed where there is no son, and indeed a number of Scottish Chiefs are female)
the system by which property that is owned by a man goes to his oldest son after his death (primogenitura, from primus ( PRIME) + genitura ). Preference in inheritance that is given by law or custom to the eldest son and his issue. The motivation for such a practice has usually been to keep the estate of the deceased, or some part of it, whole and intact, and to acknowledge the importance of age-seniority within the social hierarchy. It is no longer a recognized principle of inheritance in most jurisdictions
A practice of inheritance that ensures the right of the first born or eldest living son receives the entire estate of his parents Through this practice younger sons and all daughters were excluded from inheriting anything of real value from their parents Primogeniture was practiced in many states and England for many years The true purpose was to protect families from losing influence through a breakup of ownership of the land
Thus in England the right of inheriting the estate of the father belongs to the eldest son, and in the royal family the eldest son of the sovereign is entitled to the throne by primogeniture
the right of the eldest child (especially the son) to inherit the estate of both parents