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Dogherty History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Dogherty History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

The original Gaelic versions of today's Irish names demonstrate a proud, ancient past. The original Gaelic form of the name Dogherty is Ó Dochartaigh, from the word "dochartach," which means hurtful or obstructive 1 and in this case, it would be termed as a nickname.

Early Origins of the Dogherty family

The surname Dogherty was first found in at Inishowen, in the barony of Raphoe, in County Donegal, where they were a large and influential sept, and were kin to the O'Donnells.

They were one of the principal Irish clans to resist the Norman invasion of 1170 and were known as the Lords of Innishowen directly descended from the distinguished Irish General King Niall of the Nine Hostages, who was descended from the Heremon line of Irish Kings.

The MacDevitts, who exist in large numbers in Inishowen, are descended from David O'Doherty, a chief of Cinel Conaill who was killed in 1208. Some members of the MacDevitt branch migrated to the territory of Oriel, now counties Louth, Monaghan, and south Down. There the "D" was aspirated creating the early Anglicization MacCaveat, and then the variation MacKevitt.

Expanding their territory, they came to rule the peninsula of Inishowen in the 14th century. However, the poorly-timed and disastrous rebellion against the English crown led by Sir Cahir O'Dougherty in 1608, drastically reduced the power of the once powerful sept.

"The O'Doghertys were a powerful Sept in County Donegal, and were located in Inishowen Barony, of which O'Dogherty was Lord. The Doghertys or Dohertys are numerously represented there at the present time." 2

Early History of the Dogherty family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dogherty research. Another 61 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1587, 1608, 1677, 1755 and 1783 are included under the topic Early Dogherty History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dogherty Spelling Variations

Just like the English language, the Gaelic language of Ireland was not standardized in the Middle Ages. Therefore, one's name was often recorded under several different spellings during the life of its bearer. Spelling variations revealed in the search for the origins of the Dogherty family name include Dockeray, Dockerty, Dockharty, Dogherty, Dougharty, Dougherty, Doherty, Doherety, Dohertey, Docherty, Docharty, MacDevitt and many more.

Early Notables of the Dogherty family

Notable among the family name at this time was Sir Cahir O'Dougherty (1587-1608), leader of the rebellion in 1608, the last Gaelic Lord of Inishowen. Angered by the confiscation of his lands for the Plantation of Ulster, he sacked and burned the town of Derry and killed the Governor, Sir George Paulet. He had quarreled with Paulet for some time and some claim that Paulet had assaulted him. The real reason for the...
Another 72 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dogherty Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dogherty migration to the United States +

Ireland became inhospitable for many native Irish families in the 19th centuries. Poverty, lack of opportunities, high rents, and discrimination forced thousands to leave the island for North America. The largest exodus of Irish settlers occurred with the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. For these immigrants the journey to British North America and the United States was long and dangerous and many did not live to see the shores of those new lands. Those who did make it were essential to the development of what would become two of the wealthiest and most powerful nations of the world. These Irish immigrants were not only important for peopling the new settlements and cities, they also provided the manpower needed for the many industrial and agricultural projects so essential to these growing nations. Immigration and passenger lists have documented the arrival of various people bearing the name Dogherty to North America:

Dogherty Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Rose Dogherty, who landed in America in 1805 3
Cath Dogherty, who landed in America in 1805 3
Charles Dogherty, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1808 3
Biddy Dogherty, who landed in Baltimore, Maryland in 1811 3
Dennis Dogherty, who landed in Baltimore, Maryland in 1811 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dogherty migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Dogherty Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Matthew Dolsen U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 4

Dogherty Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Marcus Dogherty, aged 18, who arrived in Quebec in 1833
Robert Dogherty, aged 24, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833
Richard Dogherty, aged 24, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Eweretta" in 1833
John Dogherty, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Eleanor" in 1834
Daniel Dogherty, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Eleanor" in 1834

Dogherty migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Dogherty Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Mr. James Dogherty, (b. 1769), aged 24, Irish labourer who was convicted in Donegal, Ireland for life for stealing, transported aboard the "Boddingtons" on 15th February 1793, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1819 5

Dogherty Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr.Patrick Dogherty, (Doherty), (b. 1774), aged 45, Irish coachman who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for life for burglary, transported aboard the "Bencoolen" on 24th April 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia before being transferred to Tasmania via the "Admiral Cockburn" 6
Mr.Thomas Dogherty, Irish convict who was convicted in Galway, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Bencoolen" on 24th April 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia before being transferred to Tasmania via the "Admiral Cockburn" 6
Mr. Patrick Dogherty who was convicted in Kent, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Dick" on 2nd October 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
Patrick Dogherty, a blacksmith, who arrived in New South Wales, Australia sometime between 1825 and 1832
Mr. George Dogherty, (Dougherty, Dockerty), Scottish convict who was convicted in Ayr, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the "Chapman" on 12th April 1826, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dogherty migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Dogherty Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Alexander Dogherty, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
Jane Dogherty, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Nimroud" in 1863
Mary Dogherty, aged 22, a servant, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Douglas" in 1873
Edmond Dogherty, aged 30, a ploughman, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Hindostan" in 1875
Mary Dogherty, aged 25, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Hindostan" in 1875
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Dogherty (post 1700) +

Thomas Dogherty (d. 1805), Irish legal write of humble origin, educated at a country school 9

The Dogherty Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Ar Ndutcas
Motto Translation: Our heritage

Citations +

MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
Matheson, Robert E., Special Report on Surnames in Ireland with Notes as to Numeric Strength, Derivation, Ethnology, and Distribution. Dublin: Alexander Thom & Co., 1894. Print
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/boddingtons
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bencoolen
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Dick
Convict Records of Australia. Retreived 28th January 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/chapman
Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 30 June 2020