The Daugherty Family History

What Does the Daugherty Surname Mean? Historical Origins Explained

The surname Daugherty, of Irish origin, is derived from the Gaelic word ‘dochartach,’ which translates to hurtful or awkward. Variations in the spelling of Daugherty include Doherty, Dougherty, and Docharty. In England, individuals bearing the surname Daugherty are predominantly found in the counties of Lancashire, Yorkshire, Cheshire, Northumberland, Durham, Cumberland, Norfolk, and Devon. In Scotland, the primary regions associated with the Daugherty surname are Lanarkshire and Angus. In the United States, the Daugherty family name first appeared in states such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Notable individuals with this surname include Dick Daugherty, a professional football player; James A. Daugherty, a Congressman from Missouri; Harry M. Daugherty, who served as U. Attorney General under President Harding; Michael Kevin Daugherty, a music composer; Derri Daugherty, a songwriter, singer, and record producer; James Henry Daugherty, an artist and children's book author and illustrator; Jay Dee Daugherty, a musician and drummer; and Lyndsie R. Daugherty, a writer.