He was the younger son of William Tufnell (1769–1809) and his wife, Mary (d. 1829), the daughter of Thomas Carleton. His father was a barrister and
Whig MP for
Colchester 1806–7, and lord of the manor of
Barnsbury, London of which he was a developer after whom
Tufnell Park was named. In 1846 Tufnell married Honoria Mary (1824–1877), the only daughter of Colonel William Macadam. They had three sons, including
Edward Tufnell (1848–1909), Member of Parliament (father of
Richard Tufnell, also a Member of Parliament) and a daughter Mary. ==References==