An Anglo Saxon pre 6th century geographical locational name from Pulford in Cheshire or Pulsford in Devon. The meaning of the name is 'The dweller at the Ford by the (deep) Pool (Anglo Saxon 'pol')' The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Bruman de la(Pol) Forda which was dated 1086, The Domesday Book, Leicestershire during the reign of King William I, The Conqueror, 1066 - 1087 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.