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The Glowcester surname was a habitational name, taken on from the city of Gloucester. This place name was originally "Gle-vum, " which was a cognate of the Welsh "gloyw," meaning "bright." The Old English "ceaster," came from the Roman (Latin) for a fort or walled city.
The surname Glowcester was first found in Gloucestershire where the surname is descended from the tenant of the city and lands of Gloucester, held only by the King, who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086. It was from Gloucester that the King commissioned the Domesday Book. The name is probably derived from of the several stewards who held the lands from the King. Durand of Gloucester was such a steward.
Miles de Gloucester, Earl of Hereford (d. 1143), was the son and heir of Walter de Gloucester, hereditary castellan of Gloucester and sheriff of the shire. "Walter's father, Roger 'de Pistres,' had been sheriff before him, but was dead in 1086 (Domesday Book). Walter was in favour with Henry I, three of whose charters to him are extant (Duchy of Lancaster: Royal Charters). He held the post of a royal constable. Early in 1121 his son Miles was given the hand of Sibyl, daughter of Bernard de Neufmarché, the conqueror of Brecknock, with the reversion of her father's possessions (ib.) In the Pipe Roll of 1130 Walter is found to have been succeeded by his son, having died (or retired to Llanthony Abbey, according to its chronicle) in or before 1129 (Rot. Pip. 31 Hen. I). Miles was now (i.e. from 1128 at least) sheriff of Gloucestershire and Staffordshire, a justice itinerant, and a justice of the forest." 1
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Glowcester research. Another 92 words (7 lines of text) covering the year 1242 is included under the topic Early Glowcester History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Spelling variations of this family name include: Gloucester, Gloster, Glouster, Glocester and others.
More information is included under the topic Early Glowcester Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Mathew Gloster, who came to Virginia in 1621; John Gloster, who arrived in Virginia in 1635; Joseph Gloster, a bonded passenger, who settled in America in 1753.