The 2010 U.S. Census recorded 27,899 black Americans with Glover as their last name. That represented 42% of the total of 66,858 entries.
This article tracks their numbers in the census since the Civil War. We also look at historic African American people named Glover.
We end with a review of early records of black military service in the United States.
After The Civil War
The 1870 census was the first survey after the Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation. In 1850 and 1860, only free African Americans were recorded in the census. The many enslaved were omitted.
From 1870 onward, all black Americans were included.
3,086 people named Glover were recorded in the 1870 census as black and 382 as mixed.
There was a total of 10,338 people with the name.
Glover In The 1900 And 1940 Census
The mixed category was dropped from the census in 1900, so we just need to look at the black numbers this time.
The 1900 census recorded 7,270 people with the last name Glover as black within a total of 19,473 that year.
By the way, the mixed category returned in the 1910 and 1920 censuses. It was dropped again in 1930, but replaced with extra categories for colored and non-white in a way that seems confusing now.
This changed again in 1940 and we can simply focus on one black category.
The 1940 census recorded 11,377 people named Glover as black within a total of 32,805.
Historic Black Figures With The Glover Surname
Here are some notable African Americans in history with Glover as their last name.
Joshua Glover
- Born: 1810
- From: Missouri
- Died: 1888
Joshua Glover was born enslaved and was sold to Benammi Garland in 1850. He spent two years working on Garland’s farm before escaping across the Mississippi River and traveling over 300 miles to Racine, Wisconsin. He worked as a carpenter at a lumber yard.
But Glover was at risk from the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 which allowed slave owners to capture people in free states. He was betrayed by a friend who tipped off Garland about his location. Garland arrived with a group of slave catchers, grabbed Glover, and beat him badly before bringing him to the jail in St Louis.
Sherman Booth, a local white abolitionist, raised an anti-slavery crowd that broke Garland out prison. Garland fled north to Canada with the help of the Underground Railroad.
The Underground Railroad was a network of safe houses and travel routes organized by many church and community leaders, civil rights activists, and abolitionists. Thousands of enslaved people were helped to escape from the South.
Back in Wisconsin, the events prompted the state’s legislators to pass laws to protect fugitive slaves. This act of defiance by a northern state was a step on the way to Civil War.
Victor Glover
- Born: 1976
- From: Pomona, California
Victor Glover graduated with an engineering degree from California Polytechnic in 1999. He joined the U.S. Navy as an ensign and completed flight training in 2001.
After flying the Hornet during the Iraq War, Glover attended the Air Force Test Pilot School. He flew a series of test flights before being selected by NASA in 2013 for the astronaut program.
Glover’s first space flight was on the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule Resilience that left Earth in November 2020 for the International Space Station. He made three space walks in 2021.
This image shows the SpaceX craft docked with the International Space Station:
Glover In Black Military Records
Military records are a rich resource of information for family history research. Here are examples of the Glover surname from military service.
Buffalo Soldiers
Five regiments for black soldiers were formed during the Civil War. They were known as the Buffalo Soldiers.
Their records are part of the national archive of military monthly returns. The information includes the year and place of birth, where they enlisted, their occupation, and their height.
One of the earliest military entries for Glover was in October 1889. Samuel Glover was a Private in the U.S. Ninth Cavalry. He was stationed in October 1889 at Fort Niobrara, Nebraska.
One of the later entries was in December 1914. Thomas W. Glover was a Private in the U.S. Tenth Cavalry.
If you are researching military ancestors, there is a free index of these records on Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.
You have to create an account on either website, but you do not need to pay for the Buffalo Soldiers archive.
Black Civil War Sailors
The National Parks Service has a free archive of African American sailors during the Civil War.
The information includes their age, height, rank, occupation, and where and when they enlisted. It also includes every ship that they served on.
You can search the database on the National Parks website.
William Glover
One of the earliest entries for Glover was for William Glover from St. Augustine, Florida. He enlisted in February 1 1862 at Fortress Monroe when he was aged 41.
The record shows that William was assigned on April 1 1865 to the ship Mattabesett.
His occupation before enlisting was as a Steward. His naval rank was 1st Class Boy.
“1st Class Boy” was the rank given to young men who enlisted when they were under eighteen.
Mark Glover
One of the later entries was for a sailor who enlisted at Boston in December 29 1862. Mark was aged 21 and was from Washington, District of Columbia.
He was assigned to the ship Bienville on July 1 1863.
His occupation before enlisting was as a Steward. His naval rank was Landsman.
“Landsman” was the lowest rank at the time and was given to recruits with little sea experience.