He was baptised in the Church at Monforte del Cid. Juan was born of two distinguished families:  his father was don Bernardo Juan y Canicia who came from the branch of the Counts of Peñalba, and his mother was doña Violante Santacilia y Soler de Cornellá, who came from prominent land-owning family in Elche.
Juan was christened at the Church in Monforte del Cid. His father, don Bernardo Juan y Canicia, hailed from the lineage of Counts of Peñalba and his mother, doña Violante Santacilia y Soler de Cornellá, came from a family of influential landowners in Elche.