Daniel Bell Wakefield was the third child and second son of
Edward Wakefield (1774–1854), a distinguished surveyor and land agent, and Susanna Crush (1767–1816). His grandmother,
Priscilla Wakefield (1751–1832), was a popular author for the young, and one of the introducers of savings banks. He was the brother of Catherine Gurney Wakefield (1793–1873), the mother of
Charles Torlesse (1825–1866);
Edward Gibbon Wakefield (1796–1862);
Arthur Wakefield (1799–1843);
William Hayward Wakefield (1801–1848); John Howard Wakefield (1803–1862);
Felix Wakefield (1807–1875); Priscilla Susannah Wakefield (1809–1887); Percy Wakefield (1810–1832); and an unnamed child born in 1813. In 1824, Daniel Wakefield eloped with and married Selina Elizabeth de Burgh. They had a son, Charles Wakefield. His son Charles and wife Selina Elizabeth both died in 1828. In 1835 Wakefield married Angela Attwood, daughter of
Thomas Attwood. They had three children: Selina in 1837, Charles Marcus in 1838, and Alice Mary who was born in New Zealand on 9 October 1849. After obtaining his law degree, Wakefield practised in London as a member of
Lincoln's Inn. He drafted a Bill for the formation of a Colony in
South Australia that was accepted by the Secretary of State for the Colonies with some provisos.
The Adelaide Street Naming Committee rewarded his efforts by naming
Wakefield Street in his honour. ==New Zealand==