ఎలిజబెత్ ఇంగ్లాండు లోని బ్రిస్టోల్ నందలి డిక్సన్ వీధిలో శామ్యూల్ బ్లాక్వెల్ మరియు హన్నా బ్లాక్వెల్ దంపతులకు జన్మించారుజన్మించింది<ref name=Sahli>{{cite book|last=Sahli|first=Nancy Ann|title=Elizabeth Blackwell, M.D., (1871–1910): a biography|year=1982|publisher=Arno Press|location=New York|isbn=0-405-14106-8}}</ref>. ఆమె సహోదరులలో అన్న మరియు, మారియన్ లు తనకంటె పెద్దవారు. ఆరుగురు చిన్నవారు ఉన్నారు. వారిలో సామ్యూల్,హెన్రీ, ఎమిలి బ్లాక్వెల్, సరా, జాన్ మరియు జార్జిలు. <ref name=Pioneer>[http://books.google.com/books/reader?id=GHkIAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&source=gbs_atb_hover Blackwell, Elizabeth, and Millicent Garrett Fawcett. ''Pioneer Work in Opening the Medical Profession to Women''. London: J. M. Dent & Sons, 1914. Print.]</ref>
Her childhood at Wilson Street was a happy one.<ref name=Pioneer/> Blackwell especially remembered the positive and loving influence of her father. Samuel Blackwell was somewhat liberal in his attitudes towards, not only child rearing, but also religion and social ideologies. For example, rather than beating his children for bad behavior, Barbara Blackwell recorded their trespasses in a black book. If the offences accumulated, the children might be exiled to the attic during dinner.<ref>{{cite book |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=ITpj089D8-QC&pg=PA1772 |page=1772 |title=Elizabeth Blackwell: First Woman M.D. |last=Kline |first=Nancy |publisher=Conari Press |year=1997 |isbn=9781609254780}}</ref> However, Blackwell's father was by no means lax in the education of his children. Samuel Blackwell was a [[Congregationalist]], and exerted a strong influence over the religious and practical education of his children. He believed that each child should be given the opportunity for unlimited development of his/her talents and gifts. Blackwell had not only a governess, but also private tutors to supplement her intellectual development. As a result, she was rather socially isolated from all but her family as she grew up.<ref name=Sahli/>
