His father was Gilbert de Umfraville (died shortly before 13 March 1245), a Norman, and feudal Baron of Prudhoe in Northumberland, and his mother was Matilda, Countess of Angus.
Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester, paid £10,000 to act as Gilbert's warden.
Gilbert eventually grew into his inheritance, and although he was primarily an English magnate, there are still a few of his recorded grants.
In 1284 he attended the parliament with other Scottish noblemen who acknowledged Margaret of Norway as the heir to King Alexander.
He died in 1308, and was succeeded by his second son, Robert de Umfraville, Earl of Angus.