UK surname
An Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Dochartaigh, meaning "descendant of Dochartach" (derived from "docht" meaning "stern").
In the 1881 census there were 62 people recorded with the Daugherty surname, ranking it #24,843 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 69, ranked #33,762, down from #24,843 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, St Bees and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Daugherty is 175 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 11.3%.
1881 census count
62
Ranked #24,843
Modern count
69
2016, ranked #33,762
Peak year
1861
175 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Daugherty surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Daugherty surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 101 | #17,036 |
| 1861 | historical | 175 | #13,409 |
| 1881 | historical | 62 | #24,843 |
| 1891 | historical | 76 | #27,290 |
| 1901 | historical | 53 | #28,271 |
| 1911 | historical | 43 | #28,581 |
| 1997 | modern | 52 | #32,444 |
| 1998 | modern | 55 | #32,399 |
| 1999 | modern | 57 | #32,367 |
| 2000 | modern | 63 | #31,829 |
| 2001 | modern | 65 | #31,501 |
| 2002 | modern | 68 | #31,626 |
| 2003 | modern | 55 | #32,895 |
| 2004 | modern | 61 | #32,581 |
| 2005 | modern | 58 | #33,094 |
| 2006 | modern | 56 | #33,587 |
| 2007 | modern | 57 | #33,800 |
| 2008 | modern | 58 | #33,918 |
| 2009 | modern | 66 | #33,538 |
| 2010 | modern | 65 | #33,863 |
| 2011 | modern | 63 | #33,982 |
| 2012 | modern | 77 | #33,124 |
| 2013 | modern | 74 | #33,483 |
| 2014 | modern | 78 | #33,270 |
| 2015 | modern | 69 | #33,788 |
| 2016 | modern | 69 | #33,762 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, St Bees, London parishes, Toxteth Park and Workington (Workington), Clossocks. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wolverhampton | Staffordshire |
| 2 | St Bees | Cumberland |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| 5 | Workington (Workington), Clossocks | Cumberland |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Daugherty surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Daugherty, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Daugherty surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Daugherty household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Daugherty is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Daugherty is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Daugherty, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Daugherty is of English origin, derived from the medieval English word "dohter," meaning daughter. It likely emerged as a surname in the 12th or 13th century, initially used to distinguish one person from another by referring to their relationship as someone's daughter.
The earliest recorded instances of the Daugherty name can be found in various English historical records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the 13th century, where it appeared as "Doghter." Over time, the spelling evolved into different variations, including Dougherty, Doherty, and eventually Daugherty.
One notable historical reference to the Daugherty surname is in the Domesday Book of 1086, which recorded landowners and tenants in England after the Norman Conquest. While the name itself is not mentioned, there are references to individuals with the title "filia" (Latin for daughter), suggesting the potential origin of the surname.
In terms of place names, the Daugherty surname may have derived from locations such as Dougherty in Cheshire, England, or Daugherty in County Tyrone, Ireland. These place names likely originated from individuals with the surname Daugherty who settled in those areas.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Daugherty surname:
1. William Daugherty (c. 1675-1737), an Irish-born American settler and landowner in Pennsylvania. 2. Andrew Daugherty (1755-1822), an American Revolutionary War soldier and early settler in Ohio. 3. Elizabeth Daugherty (1806-1892), an American pioneer and one of the first female settlers in Oregon. 4. James Daugherty (1887-1974), an American author, illustrator, and painter known for his children's books and murals. 5. Harry M. Daugherty (1860-1941), an American politician who served as the 43rd United States Attorney General from 1921 to 1924.
While the Daugherty surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, particularly to countries with significant English or Irish immigration, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Daugherty surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Isle of Man leads with 50 Daughertys recorded in 1881 and an index of 246.55x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Isle of Man | 50 | 246.55x |
| Lancashire | 24 | 1.85x |
| Durham | 13 | 4.00x |
| Lanarkshire | 6 | 1.70x |
| Yorkshire | 6 | 0.55x |
| Cumberland | 4 | 4.25x |
| Glamorgan | 3 | 1.58x |
| Kent | 2 | 0.54x |
| Renfrewshire | 2 | 2.36x |
| Dunbartonshire | 1 | 3.41x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.09x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Widnes in Lancashire leads with 15 Daughertys recorded in 1881 and an index of 160.43x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Widnes | 15 | 160.43x |
| Onchan | 12 | 205.48x |
| Patrick | 11 | 1111.11x |
| Hedworth Monkton Jarrow | 9 | 63.97x |
| Lonan | 8 | 650.41x |
| Ballaugh | 6 | 1666.67x |
| Barony | 6 | 6.71x |
| Rushen | 6 | 437.96x |
| Normanby In | 5 | 173.01x |
| Everton | 4 | 9.68x |
| Michael | 4 | 975.61x |
| Sunderland | 4 | 69.69x |
| Cleator | 3 | 76.73x |
| Llantwit Vairdre | 3 | 140.19x |
| Over Darwen | 3 | 28.99x |
| German Peel | 2 | 170.94x |
| Woolwich | 2 | 14.52x |
| Arlecdon | 1 | 40.00x |
| Cardross | 1 | 28.41x |
| Douglas | 1 | 344.83x |
| East Greenock | 1 | 12.52x |
| Fulwood | 1 | 71.43x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 1.63x |
| Huddersfield | 1 | 6.34x |
| Kirkdale | 1 | 4.59x |
| Middle Greenock | 1 | 43.29x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Daugherty surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Daugherty surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Daugherty households.
FAQ
In 1881, 62 people were recorded with the Daugherty surname. That placed it at #24,843 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 69 in 2016. That gives Daugherty a modern rank of #33,762.
An Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Dochartaigh, meaning "descendant of Dochartach" (derived from "docht" meaning "stern").
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Daugherty bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.