Chimanlal was born in July 1864 at
Bharuch,
Bharuch district, then in the
Bombay Presidency of
British India and now part of the state of
Gujarat. The eldest of four brothers, he was born in a
Gujarati Brahmin family which had achieved distinction in the law for the preceding two generations. The surname
Setalvad derives from the family's origins in the Punjab, where their surname was
Talvad. Some Talvads who were leaders of their community became known as
Seth – Talvads ("Chiefs of the Talvads") which over time become "Setalvad". In the 18th century, some Setalvads migrated to present-day Gujarat and settled around
Surat, serving as paymasters in the imperial Mughal armies. Chimanlal's father,
Rao Sahib Harilal Ambashankar Setalvad (1821–1899), also served as
Sadr Amin of Ahmedabad and was awarded the title of
Rao Sahib by the British government upon his retirement in 1877. He subsequently served as
dewan of the
salute state of
Limbdi. ==Career==