adoptive heir
A legal term for a child adopted specifically to become the heir of a family, often to continue the family name or business. Used in historical and modern legal contexts.
He was welcomed as the adoptive heir of a distinguished family.
The system of adoptive heirs was important for continuing the family line.
Compound of 養 (よう, 'foster, adopt') and 嗣子 (しし, 'heir'). The term is used in legal and historical contexts to denote an adopted child designated as the family successor.