What does Atavism mean? I don't understand the dictionarys definition

Atavism is a trait or characteristic that an ancestor had.

http://www.google.com/webhp?source=search_app#hl=en&tbo=u&q=atavism&tbs=dfn:1&sa=X&ei=WI6pUJjlJYa0yQGRoYDwDA&ved=0CCoQkQ4&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=d880235a45dd9c50&bpcl=38625945&biw=711&bih=453

An atavism in my family appeared when my brother had blond hair, apparently inherited from one great great grandmother.