Datuk

Datuk(or its variantDatoorDatu) is aMalaytitle commonly used inBrunei,Indonesia, andMalaysia, as well as a traditional title byMinangkabau peopleinWest Sumatra,Indonesia.
The title of the wife of a male Datuk isDatin. Women with the title can take either the title Datin or Datuk.
The title is similar or equivalent to Duke, Lord, Prince, Duc or Herzog in Europe.
The oldest historical records mentioning about the titledatukis the 7th centurySrivijayaninscriptions such asTelaga BatufromPalembang,Indonesia, to describe lesser kings or vassalized kings. It was calleddātuinOld Malay languageto describe regional leader or elder,a kind ofchieftainthat rules of a collection ofkampungs(villages) calledKedatuan. The Srivijaya empire was described as a network ormandalathat consisted of settlements, villages, and ports each ruled by a datu that vowed their loyalty (persumpahan) to the central administration of SrivijayanMaharaja. Unlike the indianized title ofrajaandmaharaja, the term datuk was also found in thePhilippinesasdatu, which suggests its common nativeAustronesianorigin. The termkadatwanorkedatonrefer to the residence of datuk, equivalent withkeratonandistana. In laterMataramJavanese culture, the term kedaton shifted to refer the inner private compound of the keraton, the residential complex of king and royal family.
InBruneiandMalaysia, Datuk or Dato is related to each country'sorders(darjah kebesaran). In general, it is a title or the prefix of a title given to a person upon being conferred with certain orders of honour. The power to bestow the order, thus the title, lies with the country'ssovereign(Sultanin Brunei, andYang Di-Pertuan Agongin Malaysia for federal orders) as well as the ceremonial leaders of thestates of Malaysiafor state orders.
The usage of the variant spelling "Datuk" and "Dato" is differentiated in the following manner: "Datuk" is conferred by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong andYang di-Pertua Negeri, the non-hereditary Malaysian state leader which is nominated by the state legislature. Meanwhile, "Dato" is conferred by aSultan, the royal head of Brunei and some Malaysian states, as well asYamtuan Besarwhich is the royal head of the Malaysian state ofNegeri Sembilan.
A woman conferred with the order in her own right may be given with the title in which the word "Datuk" or "Dato" is replaced with "Datin". Nevertheless, a woman may still be given the masculine form of the title.
The wife of a man conferred with Datuk or Dato is given the title "Datin". However, the husband of a woman who has been given such a title is not given any Datuk-related title.
Permission will not be given for a UK citizen to use any title associated with a foreign or Commonwealth award in the UK. Meaning that anyone with the title Datuk or Dato can not be referred to as "Sir" and can only be referred to by their given title.
In 1808 a principal advisor of Sultan Tajuddin of Songkhla in present-day Thailand had an advisor/chancellor by name of Datuk Maharaja. This shows the early use of the title.
InIndonesia, datuk refers to honorific title of traditional community, especially amongMalayandMinangkabau people. It is functioned as a title reserved for community leader that deals with traditions and community affairs.
In Minangkabau tradition, Datuk (orDatuak) is a traditional, honorary title bestowed on a person by the agreement of a people or tribe in theMinangkabau language, spoken by theMinangkabau people.The title ofDatukwas agreed upon by local, traditional leaders (Kerapatan Adat Nagari). The title engenders great respect, and is only used for Minangkabau men who have become stakeholders of traditional leaders orpenghulu(noblemen) for a particular tribe. When the title is bestowed, it is celebrated with a traditional ceremony (Malewa Gala) and a banquet.
Unlike otherMalaytraditions, the title ofdatukin Minangkabau is inherited according to thematrilineal system. When adatukdies his title may pass to his brother or nephew, whoever is closest in the maternal line. If there is no maternal relative, it may be given to another tribal member with the agreement of the tribe.
In the tradition of theToba Batak people, a datu is magician-priest who teach divination and magic via his book thepustaha.