The Docherty Family History

What Does the Docherty Surname Mean? Historical Origins Explained

The surname Docherty, of Scottish and Irish origin, derives from the Gaelic word ‘dochartach,’ which translates to insensitive or awkward. Various spellings of Docherty include Doherty, Doherety, MacDevitt, Docharty, Dockerty, Dougharty, and Dohertey. In Ireland, the earliest Docherty families established themselves in County Donegal. In northern England, the majority of individuals bearing the Docherty surname reside, particularly in the counties of Northumberland, Durham, Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Cumberland, where there is a notable concentration of Docherty families. Throughout Scotland, the surname is also prevalent, especially in Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire. In the United States, many individuals with the surname Docherty can be found in the northeastern and midwestern regions, with substantial populations in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, and Illinois. Noteworthy individuals sharing this surname include Bevan John Docherty, an Olympic medalist from New Zealand; Laurence Docherty, a professional field hockey player for the Netherlands; Steve Docherty, a professional tennis player from Australia; and Tommy Docherty, a Scottish professional footballer.