Doherty Surname: Origin and Coat of Arms
What does Doherty mean, and where does it come from? Here is a brief introduction.
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Origin of the Doherty name
Doherty anglicises Ó Dochartaigh, "descendant of Dochartach", a name usually explained as "hurtful" or "obstructive". The family descends from the Cenél Conaill of Donegal, and from the fourteenth century its chiefs were lords of Inishowen. Doherty remains one of the most common names in Donegal and Derry, and is widespread among the Irish abroad.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Doherty name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Doherty name in Ireland. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, Scotland and England; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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Your full Doherty pack adds the researched history, early records and migration. Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Doherty coat of arms for you.
Doherty name FAQ
What does the Doherty name mean?
Descendant of Dochartach. Common variants include O'Doherty, Dougherty, Docherty.
Where does the Doherty surname come from?
It originates in Ireland, and is also found in the United States, Scotland and England.
Is there a Doherty coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Doherty crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Doherty coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: MacLysaght, The Surnames of Ireland; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); US Census Bureau 2010.