The Doherty or O’Doherty name has many variations, including (O) Dougherty, Daugherty, Docherty and Doharty. The name, derived from the Gaelic O’Dochartaigh, means (descended) from Dochartach. Dochartach was a descendant of the infamous “Niall of the Nine Hostages,” who was king of Ireland in the fourth century. Tradition has it that Niall was responsible for bringing Saint Patrick to Ireland as a captive, following a raid on the coast of Wales.

In the 14th century the clan extended their territory to become Lords of Inishowen, the peninsula which lies between Lough Swilly and Lough Foyle. The Annals of the Four Masters in 1413 record that Conor O’Doherty is Lord of Inishowen. To protect the narrow land-access to the peninsula, the O’Dohertys built the castles of Enagh, Burt and Inch. Inishowen today is still considered the home of the O Doherty clan with many Doherty's in Inishowen having a nickname to help identify the family they belong to. The nickname was normally from the occupation the family had at the time, examples of these are Brick, Saddler, Tailor. Other nicknames came from other family's that the Doherty's married into.

The O Doherty Clan has its head Quarters on Inch Island just outside Buncrana, the main town on the Inishowen Peninsula. The head quarters has a vast collection of information on the O Doherty clan and they will try and trace your roots if you descended from the O Doherty clan.