Find out how popular the last name Docherty is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Docherty.

Docherty, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Docherty surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Docherty in America

Docherty is the 18734th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Docherty surname appeared 1,465 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Docherty.

We can also compare 2010 data for Docherty to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Docherty

The surname Docherty originates from Scotland and is believed to have derived from the Gaelic "O'Dochartaigh," meaning "descendant of Dochartach." The earliest records of the name can be traced back to the 12th century in the Western Isles of Scotland, particularly on the Isle of Lewis and Harris.

The name is thought to have evolved from the Gaelic personal name "Dochartach," which may have meant "obstructive" or "difficult." This suggests that the original bearer of the name may have been a person of a stubborn or obstinate nature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which was a collection of feudal homages rendered to Edward I of England. The entry mentions "Kenede O'Dochyrdy" from Argyll, indicating the presence of the name in that region during that period.

In the 16th century, the Dochertys were a prominent clan in the Donegal area of Ireland. They were known as a branch of the O'Donnell clan and held significant influence in the region. One notable figure from this era was Sir Cahir O'Doherty, who led a rebellion against English rule in Ulster in 1608.

As the name spread across Scotland and Ireland, various spelling variations emerged, such as Doherty, Dogherty, and Docharty. These variations often reflected regional dialects and the influence of different languages.

In more recent history, several individuals with the surname Docherty have gained recognition in various fields. One notable figure was James Docherty (1870-1941), a Scottish footballer who played for Celtic and represented Scotland at the international level.

Another prominent individual was Sir Thomas Docherty (1925-2020), a British Labour Party politician who served as Minister of Defence from 1964 to 1965 under Prime Minister Harold Wilson.

The name Docherty has also been associated with the arts, including the Scottish actor Finlay Docherty (1924-2008), known for his roles in films such as "Whisky Galore!" and "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie."

In literature, the name appears in the work of Scottish author J.M. Barrie, who created the character of Nana Docherty, the Darling family's nurse in the classic play "Peter Pan."

Overall, the surname Docherty has a rich history rooted in Scottish and Irish heritage, with connections to ancient Gaelic roots and a strong presence in various regions throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Docherty

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Docherty.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Docherty was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Docherty has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Docherty was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Docherty, please contact us.

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