Owen Tuffnell was born in Dublin in Ireland on 5th October 1872. He came from a large family, 1 of 8 children born to William & Ann Maria.

In 1881 he is living at No 6 Windmill Street with his father, an army pensioner & mother a dressmaker. Also at the address are 4 of his siblings, Frederick William 11, Robert 7,Henry 9 months & 15 year old Emma Grace who is working as a straw hat machinist.