Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Docherga, Docherge 1154–89 Ch 1294 YCh 1173–81

• Docarhe 1214–20 Ch 1294

• Dokker, Docker 1431 Kendi,203 1544 FF 1689 Will

• Dockar 1615,1618 PR(K)

Etymology

Ekwall's suggestion (ScandsCelts 77) that this p.n. and Docker (La 185) are compounds of ON  dǫkk 'hollow, valley' and erg 'dairy farm' is the most likely; dǫkk would normally appear as ME  dakk , but there is ample evidence for the ON mutated –ǫ - being retained as ME -o –, especially in the north-west of England (cf. ScandsCelts 40 note). But OE  docce 'dock' is also possible.