Morris dancing was invented in the motor car factories of the midlands in the 1930's and was originally Austin/Morris dancing performed on the bonnets of every car produced. With the advent of the robotic panel beater in the early 1950's the tradition almost died out but was resurected in the 1960's by a group of enthusiasts who for reasons best known to themselves dropped the Austin part of the name. It has continued since then as morris dancing. North west developed in the Ford factories at Trafford Park (circa 1930) and Halewood (1960's) as an alternative to the,by now, established tradition, and because of the tag of "Nancy Boy" attatched to anyone who pranced about waving his handkerchief in the air. North Westerners preffered the use of sticks and slings which made fine weapons, and wore clogs in order to establish their superiority over rival teams. Women were admitted following the rent battles of Norris Green in the 1970,s. As to Cotswold -- enough said. It was probably derived from the halucinogenic effect of breathing the gases emmited during the maturation of local cheeses when handkerchiefs were waved about to dispel the vapours.
I hope this finally clears this matter up.