This is an early medieval locational name which derives from the hamlet of Pulford, some five miles from the city of Chester. "Pulford" is first recorded in the 1086 Domesday Book, and derives from the Olde English "pol" meaning a pool and "forda", a ford. The name in fact refers to an area of marsh lands over which there was one safe route. This type of locational name was originally given to the lord of the manor, in this case one Robert de Pulford, believed to be from the time of King John (1199 - 1216), however, this is not proven. The first recorded holder is as shown below, the Coat of Arms being black with a gold cross patonce. Other recordings of the name include: Joan Pulford, who married Thomas de Belgrave at Pulford, Cheshire, in 1362; whilst later in 1590, Randall Pulford, apparently of the neighbouring county of Denbigh, was entered on the Roll of Oxford University Students. The name was early into London, as Pulforth (1534), Pulferd (1581) and Pulford, one Emman Pulford being christened at St. Mary Magdalene, Bermondsey, on November 23rd 1606. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Sir Robert de Pul(s)ford, which was dated 1308, recorded at the first Dunstable Tournament, during the reign of King Edward 11, known as "Edward of Caernafon", 1307 - 1327. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.