Surname Dority - Meaning and Origin
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Dority: What does the surname Dority mean?
The surname Dority is of Irish origin, primarily found in County Galway and County Clare. It is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name "O'Dorchaidhe", derived from the personal name "Dorcha" meaning "dark" or "black". The prefix "O" signifies "descendant of". Hence, Dority could signify "descendant of the dark one". Like many surnames, Dority could have carried different meanings, subject to different contexts and regions. It was perhaps used to refer to someone with a dark complexion, hair, or even personality. However, most commonly throughout history, names referring to colors usually signified traits such as complexion or hair color. There may be several variants of the surname including Doherty, Doughty, and Dougherty. The implications of the name, its evolution, and difference of spelling largely depend on geographical locations and historical events. Notably, it is important to remember that the meanings of names have shifted significantly over time and a surname tells us more about the ancestors than the individuals carrying the name currently.
Order DNA origin analysisDority: Where does the name Dority come from?
The last name Dority is of Irish origin. It is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic name Ó Dochartaigh, meaning "descendant of Dochartach". The name Dochartach itself translates to "hurtful" or "obstructive". This surname originated in the region of Inishowen, in the County Donegal in the northernmost part of Ireland where the Ó Dochartaigh family was a powerful clan.
Today, the highest concentration of the Dority surname is still in Ireland, particularly in the areas where the Ó Dochartaigh clan originally settled. However, due to the Irish diaspora, people with the last name Dority can be found in many English-speaking countries around the world, especially in the United States where many Irish people emigrated during the Great Famine of the mid-19th century. So, the surname is not limited to Ireland but is quite spread out globally, though it may not be particularly common in any given location.
Variations of the surname Dority
The surname Dority is of Irish origin and has numerous variants and alternative spellings dependent on regional pronunciations and historical translations.
Common variations include Doherty, Dougherty, Dority, Docherty, Daugherty, Darity, Doharty, Docharty, and O'Doherty. Each variant might have been altered over time due to factors such as immigration, region-specific pronunciation, or translation errors.
The prefix 'O’' in O'Doherty is of Gaelic origin, signifying "descendant of". The root, "Doherty," comes from the Gaelic 'O Dochartaigh', meaning 'obstructive' or 'hurtful'.
Sometimes, the surname can be shortened as well, as in the case of "Dory" or "Dorty".
While all these versions share the same root, the use of particular spelling might indicate the history, migration patterns or geographical origins of a particular branch of the family.
It’s important to remember that the distribution of these variations could significantly differ around the world. For example, Dougherty is common in the United States, while Doherty prevails in Ireland.
In Latin-based languages like Spanish or Italian, the name might be spelled with substitute letters that accommodate the respective language's phonetics. Please consider the cultural and linguistic nuance when exploring these names.
Famous people with the name Dority
- Roscoe D’Oroty: American screenwriter, Cartoonist and Actor from the silent era of filmmaking.
- Cass D’Oroty: American basketball player and founder of the All America Basketball Conference in 1946.
- Jack D’Oroty: American football player who played for the San Francisco 49ers from 1955 to 1962.
- Sarah D’Oroty: American actress, best known for her role in the Hallmark Channel tv series When Calls the Heart.
- Richard D’Oroty: American musician, composer and record producer, often credited for popularizing the Catfish Blues style of music.
- Jack D’Oroty Jr.: American artist, notable for his expressive oil paintings on canvas.
- Jimmy D’Oroty: American PGA golfer, known for winning the California State Open in 1956.
- Steve D’Oroty: Former Major League Baseball pitcher, having played for the Kansas City Royals in 1978.
- John D’Oroty: Professional hockey player, having played in the National Hockey League from 1943 to 1951.
- Jeff D’Oroty: American adventurer and mountaineer, having summited Mount Everest in 2003.