eldest child; first-born child; heir
Refers to the eldest child, especially the one who inherits the family name or estate. Sense 2 (child who carries on the family name) is a natural extension of the first-born role in traditional family systems.
As the eldest child, he succeeded to the family estate.
The eldest daughter is a reliable person.
pre-ritsuryō provincial official
Archaic historical term. In the pre-ritsuryō system, an official appointed in key provinces to oversee administration of his home and surrounding provinces. Not used in modern Japanese.
Before the ritsuryō system, the sōryō was a key figure in local administration.
head of a warrior clan (Kamakura period)
Archaic historical term. Refers to the leader of a warrior clan during the Kamakura period. Not used in modern Japanese.
During the Kamakura period, the sōryō led the warrior band.
長子 is a more formal or legal term for 'eldest child', while 総領 carries a nuance of inheritance and family succession.
跡取り specifically means 'heir' or 'successor', focusing on the role of inheriting the family business or estate, whereas 総領 emphasizes birth order.
Standard modern spelling.
Variant kanji form; less common than 総領.
Outdated kanji form (舊字體).
Historically also written 惣領, it denoted general control or overall command and then the person holding that authority. In medieval family organization it consequently came to mean the principal heir or head of a lineage.