Being so populous in places like the Inishowen peninsula, the various lines of the Doherty family had to adopt "nicknames" to identify themselves.  These are not "nicknames" for individuals, but more like second surnames adopted by a family line and passed on for a generation or more.  Unfortunately, most of these nicknames were probably never written down, and so this rich tradition is a piece of oral history which could be lost.  That's why I have tried to compile a list of as many Doherty family nicknames as I can find.  This list was derived from various sources, mostly submissions from other people over the internet.  Some nicknames have been submitted by more than one person.  If you have information about a Doherty nickname, please email it to me.

Last updated:  March 6, 2005
 

Nickname	Obtained From	Comments
Ard Breac  (also seen as Ard bracht?)	Eva Doherty Gremmert Carnation, WA, USA  James F. Doherty Boston, Mass. USA	Malin Head, Inishowen
Arthur	Joe Doherty	From Carndonagh
Banker	Hugh Doherty	In Legland, 5 km from Rathmullan, Donegal.  Local family kept money safe for those saving for sufficient passage abroad (£5 in 1846)
Barr	Catherine McCauley	From Ballyloskey in  Carndonagh.
Big John	Eva Doherty Gremmart
Biss	Dannie Doherty  Dublin, Ireland  c/o postmaster@kmd.ie	Residents of Buncrana area
The Blow	Owen Doherty  Rockford, Illinois USA	A resident of the "Red Row" in Buncrana
The Boss	Owen Doherty Rockford, Illinois USA	Buncrana.  Today members of this family operate a family restaurant in Buncrana.
Bricks	Edward J Doherty Pocono Lake PA  USA	Donegal
Briney	Ben Doherty Boston, Mass. USA	Clontagh, Clonmany.  There's now a Briney Bar at Cross in Clonmany.
The Brock	Owen Doherty Rockford, Illinois USA	Andy The Brock - an unkempt fellow who lived in the first house across the alley from the Red Row in Buncrana; made ice cream which he sold from an ancient truck at the nearby fairs
The Brown	Dan Devlin	Clonmany
Butcher	Ann Doherty California	From Clonca
Butter	John Doherty Linda McPhilemy	Clonmany
Caitlin	Mary Nash	Family from Coolcross, Clonmany
Callahans	Eva Doherty Gremmert Carnation, WA, USA  Phil Hirl	From Glentogher, about 3 miles south of Carndonagh.  Some still there, though many went to Oregon.
Castle Dohertys	Kevin W. Doherty	Doagh Island
Catrina	James Doherty Boston, Mass USA
Clark	Bill Doherty	Gransha area near Buncrana, Inishowen
Copen	Margaret (Doherty) Brogan  Kelty, Fife, Scotland  c/o Elizabeth Jamieson	John Joseph Doherty, Jim Doherty and Dan Doherty, all resident at Leenan, Urris.
Cutter	Pol O'Dochartaigh	From Carndonagh.
Daddy's	Patrick Doherty Dunaff, Ireland
Davey	Patrick Doherty Dunaff, Ireland	Derived from the Irish Damh Og, the area in which this family lived.  They currently live in Dunaff and Rockstown.
Davis	Marian, New York, NY USA  John Doherty Kathleen Doherty	Started out in Dunaff, Urris Clonmany in Inishowen.  Children emigrated to New York, New Jersey, Boston, California and England.
Denary	Eva Doherty Gremmert Carnation, WA, USA  denary@celticweb.com	Isle of Doagh
Dinny's	Neal Nicholson	Family from Carndonagh; originated with family member named Dennis who left the farm and became a cattle auctioneer and valuator in Carn
Donal Johns	John Doherty	Originates from the townland of Clonmartin in Leenan, Urris.
Donnelly	Owen Doherty Ireland	From Malin Head.  Apparently derived from a man who himself was known as Tom Paddy Donal (lived c. 1900).  (May have been known as Donal Harley?)
Druim (Drim)	John Dougherty	Gortnamullin is the Druim farm at Malin Head.
Dubh	Caroline Morgan	From Clonglash,  Buncrana.  Married a Duffy.
Duke (may be phonetic of Irish for "Dark?")	Peter Murphy Brampton, Ontario	From Clongash, Buncruna.
Eddie Charley	Paul S. Cotter	Malin Head; traced back to Edward Doherty
Farmer	Joanne Doherty Texas, USA	Hugh and Isabella from this line are believed to be buried in Northern Ireland.
Feggie	Margaret Phillips
Finton	Joe Doherty Peter Murphy	Store owner Neil (Finton) Doherty from Carndonagh
Fiodoir	Bridget (Doherty) Walsh New York, New York  (formerly of Gortfad, Clonmany)	May mean "weaver."
Foty (Fodie?)	Edward Doherty	Dunaff
Giblin	Michael Doherty East Hills, NY, USA	From Clougherny Quarterland, Ardagh Township, Clonmany
Gill	Kathleen Travers	Buncrana.
Glackin	Eva Doherty Gremmert
The Goose	Steve Grant	Carndonagh
Harley (also Barney Harley)	Kathleen Doherty  Eva Doherty Gremmert Carnation, WA, USA  John Doherty	Letter / Urrismanagh / Clonmany / Inishowen.  Barney Harley's children emigrated to the Bronx in New York
Hegarty	Bridget Doherty from Malin, Co. Donegal	Malin
Hunga	Neil Coyle Dublin	Originated from Noel (Hunga Sheridan) Doherty because he had such hairy legs when men  were boys wearing short trousers to school.
Jack	Joe Doherty	From Carndonagh
James's	Jim Doherty England	Urrismenagh, Clonmany
Jammers	Eva Doherty Gremmert Carnation, WA, USA
John Jackies	Patrick Jordan Stoneham Mass.	Ballygorman
John Joe	John Doherty	Tiernasligo, Urris, Clonmany
Joker's	Jim Doherty England	Urrismenagh, Clonmany
Kinego	Bill Collins Washington, D.C.	From a townland name outside Buncrana.
Lenan	Margaret Phillips
Lighthouse Dohertys	Kevin W. Doherty	Doagh Island
Little	John Doherty	Charles from Binion, Edward from The Cross, Clonmany
Marr	Rosanne Cameron  Victoria BC Canada	Grandfather Patrick Doherty Marr. Rose Sherry in Rostrevor N. Ire. 1914 Immg. to Glasgow Died 1918/19
Mary-Willies	Eva Doherty Gremmert Carnation, WA, USA
Meneeleys or Neeleys  (Dougherty)	Jane K.  Hugh Doherty Victoria, BC, Canada	Burt; Family Group #83  (There is some suggestion that this nickname may derive from the Cornelius O'Dochartaigh, born 1485.  For more information see Hugh's website .
Mickey Eamon	James Doherty Bilston College, UK	Urrissmenagh, Clonmany
Mickey John's	Christine Doherty Bailey Boston, Mass	Cloontagh, Clonmany
The Millers	Owen Doherty Rockford, Illinois USA	lived in a tiny gate house at the entrance to what was once a  a sweeping avenue of mighty trees leading to the Castle Bridge at O'Doherty's Keep, Buncrana
Molls	Jim Doherty	Urrismenagh
"Moss Cottage" or "The Moss"	Marie Doherty	Marie's grandfather Michael Doherty was born at Moss Cottage( a crossroads). In the graveyards the gravestones differentiate between the various Doherty clans with nicknames.  Michael and his wife Bridget Monagle lived in New York City, N.Y. They were married after arriving in the states. Micheal was Captain of police in New Yor City. Later he owned a Cider Mill (believe it was in Queens, N.Y.).
The Money	Ann O'Neill Whangarei, N.Z.	From "the Mountain" near Buncrana
Mullier	Joe Doherty Geraldine Doherty	Family from Milltown (outside Carndonagh) engaged in milling
Ned (also John Ned)	John Doherty John Doherty	Gortnamullin & Urris
Ned Con	DOHERTY87@aol.com	Eddie "Ned Con" Doherty was born in Leenan, Urris, Clonmany in 1931 and lives in London. He married Grace Ellen McDaid of Leenan who died in 1996.  Assume that the "Con" refers to great-grandfather Constantine.
Newmans	Eva Doherty Gremmert Carnation, WA, USA  Phil Hirl
Oregon	Phil Hirl	A family line that left for Oregon but returned to Ireland.
Ornabrien (spelling?)	P. Doherty	Isle of Doagh
Owen Den	Jennifer McLaughlin	Tiernasligo (Land of the Shells),  Urris, Clonmany.
Owenies (also Ownies, Oweney)	James Doherty Simon Shires	Lowerbraghy, aka the Glen
Packey Tam	Bob Clarke	O'Dohertys from Malin Head
Paddy Boys	Jim Doherty England	Letter, Clonmany
Paddy Croagh	Denis Canny
Paddy More	Patrick Jordan Stoneham, Mass., USA	Malin Head
Paddy Owen	John Doherty	Urrismanagh, Urris, Clonmany
The Pats	Ellen (Doherty) Stokes  Chester, England  via Alan Stokes	Paddy and Peggy (Harkin) Doherty from Urris emigrated to America in the mid 19th century.  Their son Pat returned to Ireland and married Betty  Doherty from Cloontaugh, Clonmany.
Pauls	Eva Doherty Gremmert Carnation, WA, USA
Phelimy	John Doherty	Claggin, Uris, Clonmany
Phil Dough	Rosemarie Doherty Dunaff, Ireland	A long time ago in Rockstown Phil Doherty made excellent dough for hens, and the name was born.  Family emigrated to England and America.
Pickwick	James Lynott Stockport, England	Jack Doherty lived on St. Mary's road in Buncrana. He worked at the golf course and The Drift bar in the early 1940's.
The Pilot	Denis Canny	Mickey the Pilot worked in the Bronx.
The Plant	Neal Nicholson (from published source)	Cardonagh
Portaw	Owen Doherty Rockford, Illinois USA	Originator was Jimmy (Risteard) Doherty after he built a cottage at Portaw Bay north of Buncrana
Qued	David Doherty Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire, Eng.	James & Edith lived near Platen Bray near Buncrana
Ranty	Jennifer McLaughlin	Urrismanagh, Urris, Clonmany.  Believed to be from the old townland name (no longer used) of "Rantymargy."
Reilly	Dan Devlin	Dennis "Reilly" Doherty is a current resident of Clonmany
Richard	Tracey Doherty Hong Kong	Corvin, in Desertegny Parish
Risteard	Owen Doherty  Rockford, Illinois    Anne T. (Doherty) McKenna Dublin, Ireland	At Old Mountain, Gortleck Townland, Desertegny parish.  See website for this line.
Rocks	Christine Doherty Bailey Boston, Mass.	Isle of Doagh, Clonmany - house was built on a rock!
Roe (or Row?)	Owen Doherty Rockford, Illinois	Has been suggested that this relates to residents of the "Red Row" in Buncrana.  Also suggested that "roe" refers to red hair.
Rua	Jennifer McLaughlin	Tirhoran and Pinch, Clonmany.  Irish for "red" - colouring of family's hair!
Ruari	Dan McG	Illies, outside Buncrana.  See website of this line.
Saddler	Joe Doherty	Neil J. (Saddler) Doherty was an auctioneer in Carndonagh.
Sam or Sam's	Patrick Jordan Stoneham Massachusetts  Nora Doherty Brooklyn, NY	Malin Head, Ballygorman
Sean Weary	John Doherty	Urris
Skill	Jennifer McLaughlin	Tirhoran, Clonmany.  From the ability to plow skillfully.
Tailor	John Harkins	Neal (Tailor) Doherty was from Balleyloskey.
Tamroe	Eva Doherty Gremmert Carnation, WA, USA  denary@celticweb.com	Malin Head
Terlagh	Eva Doherty Gremmert Carnation, WA, USA
Thatcher	Nicola Doherty	Grandfather William Doherty. Born c1890 in Culmore,Co.  Derry. Married Margaret Coyle from Illies near Buncrana. Both moved to Craig, Muff, Co. Donegal.
Tim	John Doherty	Clonmany
Turas	Dennis Doherty Westlake Village, California USA	On the family farm at Falmore is St. Ultan's Cross.
Unkeys	John Doherty	Lived in "Northtown" part of Malin Head.  Two of the ladies live in Boston now.  Dolly and Louise are retired and live in Dorchester and are frequent visitors to Malin Head and family members in England.
Urris	Robert McNulty
Wee Hughie	Nicola Bailey
White	Jennifer McLaughlin	Ballyliffin and Carndonagh
The Williams	James F. Doherty Boston, Mass.	Related to Ard Breac.
Wilson	Paddy Doherty Stockport, England	Phil Doherty of Hillside ("The Parish") first worked in William Wilson's shop at the cross (now Centra Supermarket)
Yellow Doherty's	Bob Clarke	Relayed from Mickey Doherty, Leenan, Clonmany
Young Mannies	Ellen (Doherty) Stokes  Chester, England  via Alan Stokes	From Minahey, Clonmany.

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