donatus

Donatus is a Latin given name meaning "gift of God." In late antiquity and later periods, several figures bore the name, most notably in the realms of linguistics and Christian church history. The best-known is Aelius Donatus, a Roman grammarian and teacher active in the 4th century CE. He is traditionally credited with Ars grammatica, a Latin grammar that exists in two parts: Ars minor, a concise handbook, and Ars maior, a more extensive treatise. These works, together with his commentary on Terence, shaped Latin pedagogy and were staples of medieval schooling.

Another prominent bearer is Donatus Magnus, a North African bishop associated with the Donatist movement in the 4th century. Donatists argued that the effectiveness of Church sacraments depended on the purity of the clergy, leading to a schism that challenged the authority of the mainstream Catholic Church in parts of North Africa. The movement attracted supporters for several centuries and drew answers from Augustine of Hippo and other theologians.

The name Donatus also appears in Christian hagiography and ecclesiastical calendars, with several saints bearing the name in various liturgical traditions. In modern use, Donatus remains a historically significant but uncommon given name in Europe.