I'm taking a long shot at this. I have seen "Havelock" as given name, e.g. long ago sex authority, Havelock Ellis. So I suspect somebody named "Havelock" popularized the little piece of cloth hanging down behind a cap to keep wearer from becoming a "Redneck".

I checked it out on MW, and the stress is on the second syllable for all of the three terms defined:

the protective covering hanging from a hat onto the neck; the surname; and the place in North Carolina.

All of 'em: hav-LOCKS!

Sounds unnatural to my ear, so I'd have to force myself through a series of practices to stress that second syllable.

WW