Surname Dockerty - Meaning and Origin

Dockerty: What does the surname Dockerty mean?

The surname Dockerty is of Irish origin. It is derived from O'Dochartaigh, meaning "descendant of Dochartach." The personal name Dochartach means "hurtful" or "obstructive." This surname has undergone many transformations over the years and has several different spellings such as Doherty, Docherty, Dougherty, and O'Doherty, among others. It is a patronymic name, passed down from generation to generation. The O'Dochartaigh clan was a powerful and influential family in the history of Ireland, most notably being the Lords of Inishowen in the 14th century. It's important to understand that surnames had significant meaning and indicated familial lineage, status, profession, or place of residence in the earlier times. However, they are now used mainly as an identification marker. Overall, carrying the Dockerty surname usually indicates Irish heritage and familial roots.

Dockerty: Where does the name Dockerty come from?

The surname Dockerty is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic word "Dochartaigh,” which means "harmful" or "obstructive." It originates from County Donegal in the northern part of Ireland, where the family was a part of the ancient tribal grouping, Cenél Conaill.

The surname was first found in Donegal where they held a family seat from ancient times. Over the centuries, many Irish families migrated, voluntarily or forcibly, due to political and financial hardships like the Great Potato Famine. Therefore, many bearers of the surname Dockerty spread across English-speaking countries like the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, and Canada.

Today, variations of the surname (Doherty, Dougherty, Docherty) appear throughout many English-speaking nations. Its prevalence is still particularly high in Ireland and to a lesser extent, scattered throughout regions of the UK, the US, Canada, and Australia. However, it remains relatively uncommon compared to other surnames. In terms of concentration, you're most likely to find Dockertys in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Variations of the surname Dockerty

The surname Dockerty has various variants and other possible spellings which mostly came from its original Irish form, which is "Ó Dochartaigh". These variants include Docherty, Docharty, Doghartie, Dogherty, Dogharty, Doak, Doak, Dougharty, Doherty, and Dochert.

In some parts of Ireland, especially in counties like Donegal and Derry, where there is a significant concentration of people with this surname, the spelling varies with some families using Doherty, while others prefer Dougherty. Some may use Docherty or Dogherty, especially if they are of Scottish descent.

Some common surnames that may be of the same origin include Daugherty, Daugharty, O’Doherty, O’Dogherty and McAteer which is a variant used in Ulster.

It should be noted that variations in spelling could have happened due to Anglicization, different phonetic transcriptions over time, and transcription errors in written historical records. It's also possible for two people with the "same" surname to not be closely related, as different families may have independently adopted similar surnames.

Famous people with the name Dockerty

• George Dockerty: a renowned Australian football (soccer) coach, the 'Dockerty Cup', a Victorian State knockout competition, is named in his honor.
• Dominic Dockerty: a professional footballer who currently plays for Drogheda United in the League of Ireland. Unfortunately, there is limited information available on famous individuals with the last name Dockerty, especially those active in arts, sciences, politics, or other fields. Please note that the level of fame for the listed individuals may vary or be regional.

Other surnames

Dockery