Doffcocker is a mostly residential district of Bolton, Greater Manchester, lying about 3½ miles from the town centre on the northwest edge of the suburbs on the lower south facing slopes of the West Pennine Moors.
Historically within Lancashire, it is bounded by Markland Hill and Heaton to the south and Halliwell to the east.
Another version is that it was named after a Scotsman who was passing through the area and had to cross the stream.
Its waters were exceptionally high following heavy rain, so to keep his stockings (cockers, as they were known in Scotland) dry the man was obliged to "doff" them.
A similar version appears in an old book [4] Bibliography Doffcocker by W D Billington, published by Halliwell Local History Society, 1991 and 2001, ISBN 0951713906