He was born in Horten to Jacob Kielland and his wife Thora Margrethe (1827–1902), née Bendz.Christian Bendz Kielland genealogy His grandfather was Jacob Kielland, his uncle Jens Zetlitz Kielland and his cousins Kitty Lange and Alexander Kielland. Jonas Schancke Kielland had three older brothers, one older sister and one younger brother.Thora Margrethe Kielland genealogy One of the older brothers, also named Christian Bendz Kielland, lived only from 1851 to 1855. His brother Axel Christian Zetlitz Kielland became a diplomat, and the younger brother Jonas Schanche Kielland became a politician.
