The family is a member of the ancient “Northern Ó Néill” group of clans who resided in the Ulster province of Ireland.
This surname is a variant of the name McDevitt, which itself is a side-branch of the larger O'Doherty family, who were the historic chiefs of the Inishowen peninsula in northern County Donegal.
In 1608, the unsuccessful rebellion of Cahir O'Doherty (assisted by his kinsman Phelim Reagh MacDavitt), led to the seizure of the O’Doherty lands by the English, and the dispossession of the McDevitt family.
The O’Dohertys are named after Dochartach, a chief of the 10th century, and a member of the Cenél Conaill (clan group) dynasty which in medieval Irish history traced itself to Niall of the Nine Hostages.
Niall was a major Irish king who gave his name to the Uí Néill families of the northern and northwestern parts of Ireland.