On January 10, 1835, he was born the second son (the youngest child) of Hyakusuke FUKUZAWA, a low-ranking retainer of the Nakatsu domain, by his wife Ojun, in Kurayashiki of the Nakatsu domain, Buzen Province, which was located in Dojimahama in Osaka (1-chome, Fukushima, Fukushima Ward, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture, generally called Hotarumachi.)
天保5年12月12日（1835年1月10日）大坂堂島浜（大阪府大阪市福島区福島(大阪市)1丁目・通称ほたるまち）にあった豊前国中津藩の蔵屋敷で下級藩士福澤百助・於順の次男（末っ子）として生まれる。