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Help[Surname] Re: Doherty/Docherty/Dockerty?
in reply to a message by Malea Elizabeth *
I'm not quite sure what you're asking ...why would you want to change your name? I find hyphenated names a bit cumbersome. My wife has one, but that's only because she is from Norway and my ancestry is Irish, so she wants to maintain some identity. She often just uses mine when she's doing business to simplify things.
If you want to acknowledge your mother's family, it's up to you, but usually I associate hyphenated names with married women who want to retain their maiden name. The Spanish, I believe, often keep both family names ...perhaps someone more in the know can elaborate.
As far as changing your first and middle names, do what you want, but I think it's a bit strange. Your parents likely put some thought into what they named you and I think it slights them a bit by changing it. I could see if it was an absurd name, but yours really isn't.
Good luck on whatever you decide ...
If you want to acknowledge your mother's family, it's up to you, but usually I associate hyphenated names with married women who want to retain their maiden name. The Spanish, I believe, often keep both family names ...perhaps someone more in the know can elaborate.
As far as changing your first and middle names, do what you want, but I think it's a bit strange. Your parents likely put some thought into what they named you and I think it slights them a bit by changing it. I could see if it was an absurd name, but yours really isn't.
Good luck on whatever you decide ...
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well, my mother just brought it up as a thought to me since there is nobody to carry on her last name.
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If the spelling is your problem, here's a breakdown.
Docherty, the commonest spelling in Britain, found overwhelmingly in Scotland. Rare in Ireland.
Doherty, the commonest spelling in Ireland, also found in Scotland and England.
Dockerty, best represented in the North of England. Not even noticeable in Ireland or Scotland.
Dogherty, rarer spelling found in Ireland.
In Irish it's O Dochartaigh for a gent and Ní Dochartaigh for a lady. The homeland is Donegal, whose emigrants usually headed for Scotland, particularly Glasgow and Dundee. Docherty, however, seems to be strongest in the Argyll and the Western Isles. There were Odochertys in Islay in the early 17th century.
Docherty, the commonest spelling in Britain, found overwhelmingly in Scotland. Rare in Ireland.
Doherty, the commonest spelling in Ireland, also found in Scotland and England.
Dockerty, best represented in the North of England. Not even noticeable in Ireland or Scotland.
Dogherty, rarer spelling found in Ireland.
In Irish it's O Dochartaigh for a gent and Ní Dochartaigh for a lady. The homeland is Donegal, whose emigrants usually headed for Scotland, particularly Glasgow and Dundee. Docherty, however, seems to be strongest in the Argyll and the Western Isles. There were Odochertys in Islay in the early 17th century.
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Thanks Jim ...always good stuff!
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