Doherty

Doherty is a surname of Irish origin, Anglicized from the Gaelic Ó Dochartaigh, meaning “descendant of Dochartaigh.” The root Dochartaigh itself comes from Dochartach, a personal name that is commonly associated with the concept of injury or harm, though in the context of a family name it denotes lineage. The name has many spellings, including Docherty, Dougherty, and Dochertie, and is part of a broader family of Ó Dochartaigh variants found across Ireland and Scotland.

Historically, the O’Dochartaigh (Ó Dochartaigh) were a Gaelic Irish sept in Ulster, most notably associated with Tyrconnell (County Donegal) and the Inishowen peninsula. They held regional power as lords and chiefs in the northwest of Ulster from medieval times until the upheavals of the early 17th century, including the end of the Gaelic lordships and the subsequent plantations. Following these upheavals, bearers of the name dispersed widely, with many emigrating to Britain, the United States, Canada, Australia, and beyond. Today the surname remains common in Ireland and Northern Ireland and is well represented in Irish and British diaspora communities, as well as in North America and Oceania.

Notable people with the surname have appeared across politics, sports, the arts, and academia, reflecting its broad geographic and cultural distribution. In addition to individuals, the name appears in genealogical and historical contexts related to Ulster clans and Irish migration history.