Find out how popular the last name Gloss is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Gloss.

Gloss, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Gloss surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gloss in America

Gloss is the 23167th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gloss surname appeared 1,101 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Gloss.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gloss to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Gloss

The surname Gloss has its origins in the Old English language, derived from the word "glos," which means "to gloss" or "to explain." This name first emerged in the Anglo-Saxon regions of England, particularly in the counties of Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, during the 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Gloss can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and properties compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a landowner named Aelfric Glos, who held estates in the village of Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire.

During the 13th century, the spelling of the surname evolved to include variations such as Glosse, Glosse, and Glos. These variations were likely influenced by the Norman-French pronunciation of the name. The first recorded instance of the modern spelling "Gloss" dates back to 1279, when a John Gloss was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Worcestershire.

In the 14th century, the Gloss family established a notable presence in the county of Gloucestershire. One prominent member was William Gloss (1325-1392), a successful merchant and landowner who served as the Sheriff of Gloucestershire in 1368.

Another notable figure bearing the surname Gloss was Thomas Gloss (1460-1515), a scholar and theologian who studied at Oxford University and later became a canon at the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Salisbury.

During the 16th century, the Gloss surname spread to other regions of England, including London and the county of Somerset. One notable individual from this period was Richard Gloss (1524-1587), a prominent lawyer and member of the Inner Temple, one of the four ancient societies of Court in London.

In the 17th century, the surname Gloss can be found in various historical records, including parish registers and court documents. One noteworthy figure was John Gloss (1610-1672), a successful merchant and ship owner who played a significant role in the development of the English trading industry.

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, individuals bearing the surname Gloss continued to contribute to various fields, including literature, science, and the arts. One notable example is Elizabeth Gloss (1788-1862), a renowned poet and author whose works explored themes of nature and the human experience.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gloss

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Gloss.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Gloss was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Gloss has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Gloss was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Gloss, please contact us.

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