Meaning & History
Etymology
Daugherty is a surname of Irish origin, being a variant of Doherty. The root name Doherty is an anglicized form of the Gaelic Ó Dochartaigh, meaning "descendant of Dochartach". The byname Dochartach derives from the Irish word dochart, meaning "obstructive" or "hurtful", suggesting a possible original nickname for a troublesome individual.
Distribution and Demographics
In the United States, Daugherty is relatively common. According to the 2010 United States Census, it ranked as the 997th most frequent surname, borne by 35,020 individuals. The vast majority (90.01%) identified as White. Notably, Daugherty also designates an unincorporated community in Cass County, Missouri.
Variants
Other anglicized variants of the same original surname include Dougherty and the original Gaelic form Ó Dochartaigh. These variations emerged through different regional spelling conventions during the Anglicization of Irish names in the 17th–19th centuries.
Key Facts
- Meaning: Variant of Doherty, "descendant of Dochartach"
- Origin: Irish (Gaelic)
- Type: Surname
- Usage: Primarily English-speaking countries, especially United States