Daugherty
An Irish surname, usually an anglicized form of a Gaelic name tied to Donegal and Ulster families.
The #997 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 8,825 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Daugherty is an anglicized Irish surname, most commonly linked with Gaelic forms such as Ó Dochartaigh. The old Gaelic element dochartach means something like 'obstructive' or 'hurtful,' so the name is often explained as a descriptive byname that later became hereditary. In English spelling, the name developed into several forms, including Doherty and Daugherty.
History
The name is especially associated with Ireland, above all Ulster and Donegal, where the Ó Dochartaigh kindred was prominent. In English-speaking records the surname appears in several spellings, and Daugherty is one of the common North American forms. It became well established in the United States through Irish immigration in the 19th century.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Daugherty and Doherty are often just different spellings of the same Irish family name, not separate surnames.
From the historical record
“Deveen. Daugherty. Donaghoe. [Dempsey]. 87.”
— Varieties and Synonymes of Surnames and Christian Names in Ireland