NameCensus.

UK surname

Docherty

Scottish surname meaning "family of the physician's assistant".

In the 1881 census there were 4,467 people recorded with the Docherty surname, ranking it #1,002 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 12,207, ranked #536, up from #1,002 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Greenock Town Centre and East Central, Port Glasgow Upper, West and Central and Greenock East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Docherty is 12,207 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 173.3%.

1881 census count

4,467

Ranked #1,002

Modern count

12,207

2016, ranked #536

Peak year

2016

12,207 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Docherty had 4,467 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,002 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 12,207 in 2016, ranked #536.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 6,132 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Docherty surname distribution map

The map shows where the Docherty surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Docherty surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Docherty over time

The 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 2,033 #1,429
1861 historical 2,403 #1,220
1881 historical 4,467 #1,002
1891 historical 5,003 #938
1901 historical 6,132 #906
1911 historical 527 #7,533
1997 modern 10,909 #566
1998 modern 11,200 #572
1999 modern 11,194 #575
2000 modern 11,222 #571
2001 modern 10,896 #573
2002 modern 11,174 #572
2003 modern 10,888 #576
2004 modern 10,955 #574
2005 modern 11,065 #555
2006 modern 11,164 #550
2007 modern 11,320 #550
2008 modern 11,446 #547
2009 modern 11,757 #547
2010 modern 12,034 #550
2011 modern 11,907 #548
2012 modern 11,730 #548
2013 modern 11,850 #555
2014 modern 12,098 #548
2015 modern 12,111 #542
2016 modern 12,207 #536

Geography

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Where Dochertys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Greenock and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Greenock Town Centre and East Central, Port Glasgow Upper, West and Central, Greenock East, Greenock West and Central and Greenock Upper Central. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Greenock Renfrew
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Greenock Town Centre and East Central Inverclyde
2 Port Glasgow Upper, West and Central Inverclyde
3 Greenock East Inverclyde
4 Greenock West and Central Inverclyde
5 Greenock Upper Central Inverclyde

Forenames

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First names often paired with Docherty

These lists show first names that appear often with the Docherty surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Docherty

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Docherty, 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

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Docherty surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Docherty household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Docherty is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Docherty is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Docherty falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Docherty is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

This describes the area pattern most associated with Docherty, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Docherty

The surname Docherty originates from Scotland and is believed to have derived from the Gaelic "O'Dochartaigh," meaning "descendant of Dochartach." The earliest records of the name can be traced back to the 12th century in the Western Isles of Scotland, particularly on the Isle of Lewis and Harris.

The name is thought to have evolved from the Gaelic personal name "Dochartach," which may have meant "obstructive" or "difficult." This suggests that the original bearer of the name may have been a person of a stubborn or obstinate nature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which was a collection of feudal homages rendered to Edward I of England. The entry mentions "Kenede O'Dochyrdy" from Argyll, indicating the presence of the name in that region during that period.

In the 16th century, the Dochertys were a prominent clan in the Donegal area of Ireland. They were known as a branch of the O'Donnell clan and held significant influence in the region. One notable figure from this era was Sir Cahir O'Doherty, who led a rebellion against English rule in Ulster in 1608.

As the name spread across Scotland and Ireland, various spelling variations emerged, such as Doherty, Dogherty, and Docharty. These variations often reflected regional dialects and the influence of different languages.

In more recent history, several individuals with the surname Docherty have gained recognition in various fields. One notable figure was James Docherty (1870-1941), a Scottish footballer who played for Celtic and represented Scotland at the international level.

Another prominent individual was Sir Thomas Docherty (1925-2020), a British Labour Party politician who served as Minister of Defence from 1964 to 1965 under Prime Minister Harold Wilson.

The name Docherty has also been associated with the arts, including the Scottish actor Finlay Docherty (1924-2008), known for his roles in films such as "Whisky Galore!" and "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie."

In literature, the name appears in the work of Scottish author J.M. Barrie, who created the character of Nana Docherty, the Darling family's nurse in the classic play "Peter Pan."

Overall, the surname Docherty has a rich history rooted in Scottish and Irish heritage, with connections to ancient Gaelic roots and a strong presence in various regions throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Docherty families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Docherty surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lanarkshire leads with 2,062 Dochertys recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.67x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 2,062 14.67x
Renfrewshire 856 25.42x
Dunbartonshire 287 24.58x
Ayrshire 197 6.06x
Midlothian 150 2.58x
Stirlingshire 125 7.80x
Angus 119 2.96x
Durham 104 0.80x
Kirkcudbrightshire 74 11.77x
Northumberland 71 1.10x
Lancashire 57 0.11x
Perthshire 47 2.41x
West Lothian 42 6.42x
Argyllshire 40 3.31x
Dumfriesshire 21 2.19x
Fife 19 0.74x
Yorkshire 19 0.04x
Aberdeenshire 15 0.37x
Buteshire 15 5.70x
Caithness 12 2.02x
Inverness-shire 12 0.92x
Wigtownshire 10 1.73x
Cheshire 9 0.09x
Surrey 9 0.04x
Cumberland 8 0.21x
East Lothian 8 1.39x
Roxburghshire 8 1.02x
Hampshire 7 0.08x
Peeblesshire 7 3.43x
Kent 6 0.04x
Berwickshire 5 0.95x
Royal Navy 5 0.97x
Staffordshire 4 0.03x
Warwickshire 4 0.04x
Clackmannanshire 3 0.84x
Kincardineshire 3 0.57x
Middlesex 3 0.01x
Ross-shire 3 0.25x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.03x
Banffshire 1 0.11x
Devon 1 0.01x
Dorset 1 0.04x
Isle of Man 1 0.12x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.07x
Sussex 1 0.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 540 Dochertys recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.18x.

Place Total Index
Barony 540 15.18x
Govan 462 13.29x
Glasgow 397 15.91x
West Greenock 162 26.80x
Old Monkland 150 26.90x
Port Glasgow 106 65.12x
Abbey 104 20.24x
Middle Greenock 102 111.01x
East Greenock 99 31.14x
Maryhill 69 25.08x
Dundee 68 4.53x
Hamilton 67 17.10x
Paisley Middle Church 60 30.61x
Old Kilpatrick 59 42.76x
Kirkintilloch 58 36.57x
New Monkland 58 13.96x
Cambusnethan 55 17.62x
Neilston 55 32.54x
Bothwell 54 14.17x
Bonhill 51 27.21x
Falkirk 46 12.26x
New Kilpatrick 42 37.81x
Rutherglen 40 19.40x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 38 1.62x
Eastwood 36 17.36x
Inverkip 36 45.36x
Kilmarnock 35 9.04x
Dumbarton 34 20.92x
Liff Benvie 33 5.40x
Shettleston 30 23.85x
Kilwinning 23 21.90x
Dalserf 22 15.69x
Paisley High Church 22 8.21x
Cardross 21 14.98x
Stirling 21 10.39x
Dalziel 20 13.23x
Row 20 13.24x
Blantyre 19 12.99x
Campbeltown 19 13.02x
Renfrew 19 17.09x
Troqueer 18 21.82x
Newcastle On Tyne St 17 5.07x
Boness 16 17.74x
Kilsyth 16 15.66x
Shotts 16 9.52x
Stevenston 16 18.88x
Elswick 15 2.91x
Gorbals 15 17.98x
Kelton 15 29.03x
Darlington 14 2.81x
Kilbarchan 14 13.69x
Paisley Low Church 14 13.13x
South Leith 14 2.14x
Rothesay 13 10.20x
Urr 13 15.89x
Bootle Cum Linacre 12 2.93x
Dundonald 12 10.01x
Thurso 12 12.93x
Campsie 11 12.51x
Gateshead 11 1.14x
Uphall 11 15.29x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 10 1.33x
Beith 10 10.31x
Coylton 10 21.68x
Dalmellington 10 10.46x
Dreghorn 10 16.99x
Old Cumnock 10 13.81x
Ardrossan 9 8.00x
Auckinleck 9 8.94x
Cockerton 9 21.71x
Dunoon Kilmun 9 9.54x
Edinburgh St Johns 9 24.50x
Erskine 9 36.78x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 9 1.61x
Sunderland 9 3.94x
Dunfermline 8 2.02x
Fala Soutra 8 172.41x
Gorton 8 1.65x
Lochee 8 22.28x
Strathblane 8 40.00x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Docherty surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 34
Ann 9
Elizabeth 9
Margaret 9
Jane 5
Rose 5
Annie 4
Ellen 4
Catherine 3
Eliza 3
Isabella 3
Maggie 3
Sarah 3
Alice 2
Bridget 2
Jessie 2
Kate 2
Margret 2
Agnes 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Barba 1
Barbara 1
Caroline 1
Catharine 1
Cathrine 1
Charlotte 1
Elbyar 1
Elen 1
Fanny 1
Jemima 1
Joh 1
Julia 1
Lillian 1
Louisa 1
M.A. 1
Maria 1
Mat.A. 1
Nancy 1
Phoebe 1
Susan 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Docherty surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

FAQ

Docherty surname: questions and answers

How common was the Docherty surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,467 people were recorded with the Docherty surname. That placed it at #1,002 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Docherty surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 12,207 in 2016. That gives Docherty a modern rank of #536.

What does the Docherty surname mean?

Scottish surname meaning "family of the physician's assistant".

What does the Docherty map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Docherty bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

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.