SURNAMES IN ITALY

Donatini

This form is an altered form of the surname Donato.

Origin and meaning

Originating from Chiaravalle Centrale; present in the municipal territory of Santa Maria la Longa. Documented between 1284 and 1719. First documentation: "Donatus de Nimis, annorum 80 circiter". From the personal name "Donato". But in southern Italy the Spanish donado ("lay brother, secular") is also possible.

Variants

Altered forms and derivatives

Geographic distribution: Diffused throughout Italy; Arezzo area, Mondovì area and Pinerolo area for the cult of the saint; Piedmont for Donatilla; Piedmont and Liguria for Natta

📍 You can view how this surname is distributed in Italy: View distribution in Italy (Cognomix)

This entry brings together what 4 authors propose about the origin of the surname. In some cases they agree and reinforce a single hypothesis; in others, they contribute different views worth considering.

Sources

This entry of the Italian Surname Meanings dictionary is based on the following specialized onomastic sources:

  • Bongioanni, A. (1940). Nomi e Cognomi. Saggio di ricerche etimologiche e storiche. Milano: Fratelli Bocca.
  • De Felice, E. (1978). Dizionario dei cognomi italiani. Milano: Mondadori.
  • Miranda, F. (2013). I cognomi di Regalbuto, Catenanuova e Centuripe. Ginevra Bentivoglio EditoriA.
  • Patti Holmes, G. (2018). Alla scoperta dei cognomi siciliani. Retrieved from https://www.ilsicilia.it