Map of Ireland showing where the Dockery arms are recorded
The Dockery arms were recorded in Town Councillor, c. 1645.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Dublin.
Dublin was the seat of government in Ireland and the place where grants were sought and recorded. Families with business at the castle or the courts settled nearby, and settling there put their arms on record.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Ireland in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Ireland when the Dockery arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Ireland.
Origin & History of the Dockery Family in Ireland
The family name Dockery is deeply rooted in the history of Ireland, with records confirming that members of the family were established in Dublin by 1645. The name is widely considered to be an Anglicized version of the Gaelic surname Ó Dochartaigh, which originated in the northern province of Ulster. While the family name is most famously associated with the powerful O'Doherty clan of County Donegal, the presence of Dockery families in Dublin during the mid-seventeenth century suggests that individuals had migrated from their ancestral lands to the capital for trade, legal affairs, or political reasons. During this period, Dublin was a bustling center of commerce and administration, making it a common destination for families looking to expand their influence or seek new opportunities. The transition from the original Gaelic form to the spelling used today reflects the broader linguistic shifts that occurred as English became the dominant language of record-keeping and daily life in Ireland.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ó Dochartaigh
Descendant of the cruel or obstructive person
This name
DockeryDerived from the Gaelic word for hurtful or obstructive, denoting a fierce or harsh individual.
also spelled
Dockrill
Dockery
Dockray
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland, 1985
Woulfe, Patrick, Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall: Irish Names and Surnames, 1923
National Archives of Ireland, Civil Survey of the County of Dublin, 1654
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
leafHappiness and abundance
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
leafHappiness and abundance
