UK surname
Of English or Scottish origin, a variant spelling of "doughty" meaning brave or valiant.
In the 1881 census there were 124 people recorded with the Daughty surname, ranking it #17,429 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4, ranked #38,419, down from #17,429 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Sharnbrook, Margate and St George the Martyr. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Daughty is 276 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 96.8%.
1881 census count
124
Ranked #17,429
Modern count
4
2016, ranked #38,419
Peak year
1861
276 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Daughty surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Daughty surname density by area, 1881 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 | 150 | #12,905 |
| 1861 | historical | 276 | #9,052 |
| 1881 | historical | 124 | #17,429 |
| 1891 | historical | 182 | #15,983 |
| 1901 | historical | 69 | #26,499 |
| 1911 | historical | 226 | #13,840 |
| 1997 | modern | 9 | #37,214 |
| 1998 | modern | 5 | #37,861 |
| 1999 | modern | 5 | #37,872 |
| 2000 | modern | 6 | #37,624 |
| 2001 | modern | 3 | #38,091 |
| 2002 | modern | 3 | #38,152 |
| 2003 | modern | 3 | #38,198 |
| 2004 | modern | 5 | #37,830 |
| 2005 | modern | 5 | #37,885 |
| 2006 | modern | 5 | #37,956 |
| 2007 | modern | 4 | #38,169 |
| 2008 | modern | 5 | #38,027 |
| 2009 | modern | 4 | #38,287 |
| 2010 | modern | 4 | #38,371 |
| 2011 | modern | 4 | #38,338 |
| 2012 | modern | 2 | #38,754 |
| 2013 | modern | 2 | #38,761 |
| 2014 | modern | 2 | #38,791 |
| 2015 | modern | 2 | #38,793 |
| 2016 | modern | 4 | #38,419 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Sharnbrook, Margate, St George the Martyr, Liverpool and Bradford. 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 | Sharnbrook | Bedfordshire |
| 2 | Margate | Kent |
| 3 | St George the Martyr | London (South Districts) |
| 4 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| 5 | Bradford | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Daughty 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 Daughty, 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 Daughty surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Daughty 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, Daughty 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 Daughty is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Daughty, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Daughty is believed to have originated in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "dohtig," which means "brave" or "valiant." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a descriptive nickname to someone who displayed these qualities.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where a person named Thomas Doughty is mentioned. This spelling variation indicates the evolution of the name over time.
In the 14th century, the Daughty surname appeared in various historical records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which listed a William Doughty as a taxpayer. The Subsidy Rolls were tax records that provide valuable insights into the distribution and prominence of surnames during that period.
During the 16th century, the name gained prominence with individuals like Thomas Doughty (c. 1545-1578), an English explorer and navigator who accompanied Sir Francis Drake on his circumnavigation of the globe. Doughty was later accused of mutiny and executed by Drake in Patagonia.
Another notable figure was Michael Doughty (1591-1672), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of Teddington, Middlesex. He is known for his work "The Unlawfulness of Defensive War" published in 1642.
In the 18th century, William Doughty (1691-1782) was an English merchant and member of the Virginia Company, playing a significant role in the early colonization efforts of North America.
As the name spread across different regions, variations in spelling emerged, such as Doughty, Doughtie, and Doughty. These variations can be found in historical records and manuscripts from various parts of England.
Throughout its history, the Daughty surname has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including explorers, clergymen, merchants, and more. While the name's origins can be traced back to Old English, its enduring presence serves as a testament to the rich tapestry of English heritage and the stories woven into surnames over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Daughty 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. Yorkshire leads with 49 Daughtys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.09x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 49 | 4.09x |
| Sussex | 12 | 5.88x |
| Warwickshire | 11 | 3.61x |
| Staffordshire | 8 | 1.96x |
| Durham | 6 | 1.67x |
| Wiltshire | 6 | 5.61x |
| Middlesex | 5 | 0.41x |
| Suffolk | 5 | 3.39x |
| Surrey | 5 | 0.85x |
| Lancashire | 4 | 0.28x |
| Herefordshire | 3 | 6.05x |
| Gloucestershire | 2 | 0.84x |
| Cumberland | 1 | 0.96x |
| Denbighshire | 1 | 2.19x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.24x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.26x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 0.52x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 0.61x |
| Westmorland | 1 | 3.76x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 0.63x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 11 Daughtys recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.82x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | 11 | 10.82x |
| Broadwater | 9 | 192.31x |
| Walsall Foreign | 8 | 37.93x |
| Kimberworth | 7 | 105.26x |
| Weardley | 7 | 11666.67x |
| Batley | 6 | 52.68x |
| Dawdon | 6 | 135.44x |
| North Bradley | 6 | 769.23x |
| Hoyland Nether | 5 | 170.07x |
| Theberton | 5 | 2000.00x |
| York St Mary | 5 | 100.81x |
| Hessle In Sculcoates | 4 | 377.36x |
| Camberwell | 3 | 3.88x |
| Doncaster | 3 | 34.25x |
| Ecclesall Bierlow | 3 | 12.31x |
| Leominster | 3 | 146.34x |
| North Bierley | 3 | 46.37x |
| Bentley Cum Arksey | 2 | 317.46x |
| Brighton | 2 | 4.86x |
| Bristol St Augustine | 2 | 52.22x |
| Kensington London | 2 | 2.97x |
| Salford | 2 | 4.74x |
| Burton Joyce | 1 | 357.14x |
| Chichester All Sts | 1 | 714.29x |
| Clapham | 1 | 6.61x |
| Crigglestone | 1 | 86.96x |
| Dalston | 1 | 125.00x |
| Dewsbury | 1 | 8.14x |
| Glasgow | 1 | 1.44x |
| Greenwich | 1 | 5.19x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 1.47x |
| Halifax | 1 | 5.68x |
| Horncastle | 1 | 50.00x |
| Middlesbrough | 1 | 6.41x |
| Newchurch | 1 | 8.52x |
| Oldham | 1 | 2.16x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 2.25x |
| Poplar London | 1 | 4.38x |
| Reigate Foreign | 1 | 15.67x |
| Undermilbeck | 1 | 113.64x |
| Worcester St Martin | 1 | 46.95x |
| Wrexham Regis | 1 | 29.50x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Daughty surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 11 |
| Elizabeth | 5 |
| Alice | 3 |
| Ann | 3 |
| Emma | 3 |
| Charlotte | 2 |
| Clara | 2 |
| Eliza | 2 |
| Gertrude | 2 |
| Hannah | 2 |
| Martha | 2 |
| Priscilla | 2 |
| Belinda | 1 |
| Caroline | 1 |
| Eliz. | 1 |
| Ellen | 1 |
| Esther | 1 |
| Evangeline | 1 |
| Fanny | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Frances | 1 |
| Frederica | 1 |
| Jessie | 1 |
| Kathrine | 1 |
| Kezia | 1 |
| Lillian | 1 |
| Lizzie | 1 |
| Lucille | 1 |
| Lucy | 1 |
| Margaret | 1 |
| Maria | 1 |
| Rebecca | 1 |
| Rosa | 1 |
| Susan | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Daughty 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 Daughty households.
FAQ
In 1881, 124 people were recorded with the Daughty surname. That placed it at #17,429 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 4 in 2016. That gives Daughty a modern rank of #38,419.
Of English or Scottish origin, a variant spelling of "doughty" meaning brave or valiant.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Daughty 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.