Surname Doherty - Meaning and Origin

Unveiling The Doherty Lineage: Discoveries from my iGENEA DNA Test

After taking a DNA test at iGENEA, I was astounded to find out that my Doherty lineage is not just Irish as I presumed. Through the results, I found unexpected ties to Viking explorers and ancient Irish nobility which shed new light on the genetic traits, values, and history that make me a unique Doherty.

G. Doherty

Doherty: What does the surname Doherty mean?

The last name Doherty is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "O Dochartaigh," meaning "descendant of Dochartach." The name Dochartach itself translates to "hurtful" or "obstructive." This surname originated from the region of Inishowen, County Donegal in Ireland. The O'Doherty clan was a prominent and influential group in this region. Despite its somewhat negative connotation, those with the surname Doherty were known for their bravery and strong leadership. The surname has various spelling forms including Dougherty, Docherty, and Daugherty due to phonetic translations from the Gaelic language. Today, the surname has spread throughout the world due to Irish diaspora. However, it is still commonly found in its region of origin.

Doherty: Where does the name Doherty come from?

The last name Doherty originates from Ireland, specifically from the northern region of the country where the Clan Ó Dochartaigh (from which the name Doherty descends) has its ancient roots. The name is an anglicized form of the Gaelic O’Dochartaigh, meaning "descendant of Dochartach". The given name Dochartach comes from "dochartaigh", meaning obstructive or hurtful.

This surname is most common in the county of Donegal in Ireland, where a town named Ballydoherty bears testament to the influence and presence of the Dohertys. They were once a powerful sept in the region with their chief correctly known as 'Lord of Inishowen.'

Doherty is also prevalent in other parts of Ireland and in regions around the world where Irish diaspora is significant. This includes countries such as the United States, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Nevertheless, it is in Ireland where the surname remains most common today.

Variations of the surname Doherty

The surname Doherty originates from Ireland and has several variants, spellings and derivations. It is anglicized from the original Gaelic "O’Dochartaigh," which means "descendant of Dochartach." Dochartach is an ancient personal name meaning "harmful" or "obstructive."

The most common variants are Dougherty and Docherty. Other spellings include Dockerty, Dockarty, Dogherty, Dohertey, Dohorty, Docharty, O'Doherty, O'Dougherty, O'Docherty, and Dogerty.

Another variation includes Daugherty which is particularly prevalent in the United States. In Scotland, the name is often spelled as Docherty or Dockerty.

It is also connected to the surnames Darity and Dority in some regions. However, it is important to note that the pronunciation might differ among these variants, especially between different regions and countries. Despite these variations, the base meaning in Gaelic remains the same.

Famous people with the name Doherty

• Shannen Doherty: An American actress known for her roles in Beverly Hills, 90210, and Charmed.
• Pete Doherty: An English musician, songwriter, actor, poet, writer, and artist, best known for being co-frontman of The Libertines.
• Michael Doherty: English composer and musician. His works include choral, film, and theater music.
• Catherine Doherty: A Russian-Canadian Catholic social worker and founder of the Madonna House Apostolate.
• Doc Doherty: Former professional boxer from Massachusetts, USA.
• Sean Doherty: An Irish politician who has served as a Teachta Dála (TD) since 2011.
• DJ Doherty: A former professional baseball player from the United States.
• Elissa Doherty: A Senior writer at Herald Sun, Melbourne.
• Elaine Doherty: Soccer player from Ireland.
• Padraic Doherty: Irish Gaelic footballer.
• Moya Doherty: Irish entrepreneur and co-founder of the Riverdance theatrical show.
• Alan Doherty: Irish flutist and founding member of the band Gráda.
• Tadhg Doherty: Irish author, noted for his Gaeltacht-based novels.
• Pat Doherty: Irish republican politician.
• Edward Doherty: Union Army officer during the American Civil War best known for capturing John Wilkes Booth.

Other surnames

D' TurckD'AgneauD'AgostiniD'AillieD'AltonD'Ambrosiad'Andremontd'AntremontD'ArcyD'ArzacD'assignyD'AubynD'AughtryD'Auteryd'AutremontD'AutreyD'AutryD'Avanzo