An English surname, Poulter comes from the Old French term ‘poletier’ which refers to a person who deals as a breeder or seller of poultry (chickens). Variations in spelling Poulter include Powlter, Puleter, Poulterer and Pulter. In Herefordshire, England many early Poulter families first lived. Over the decades they spread across England and parts of eastern Wales. The greater populations of Poulter families are in the city of London, Surrey, Essex, Hampshire, Cambridgeshire and Yorkshire counties. Within Scotland the Poulter name is found in Lanarkshire, Midlothian, Peeblesshire, Renfrewshire and Dunbartonshire counties. Within the United States the Poulter families primarily lived in Texas, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, California, Utah, New York, Michigan and Ohio. Famous: Marlene Clark Poulter (television writer), Ian Poulter (professional golfer from England), Thomas Poulter (Arctic explorer from England) and Arthur Poulter (awarded the English Victoria Cross during World War II).