As the son of Henry Ernest, Count of Stolberg-Wernigerode, Christian Frederick was a member of the noble Stolberg family.

His mother was Henry Ernest's second wife, Princess Anna of Anhalt-Köthen, daughter of Augustus Louis of Anhalt-Köthen by his second wife, Emilie (herself daughter of Erdmann II of Promnitz).

During his studies in Halle from 1764 to 1767 he joined the Freemason lodge zu den drei Degen.

He was made a Knight of the Order of Saint John in 1790 by Prince Augustus Ferdinand of Prussia.

Among the count's friends were the poets Anna Louisa Karsch and Johann Wilhelm Ludwig Gleim.