Born in Zalaboldogfa in the county of Zala, located in south-western region of the former Kingdom of Hungary, he was member of the ancient Roman Catholic Hungarian noble family Farkas de Boldogfa (in Hungarian: boldogfai Farkas család).

His father was János Farkas de Boldogfa (1741–1788), jurist, lawyer, landowner, Prothonotary of the county of Zala.

His mother was Judith Sümeghy de Lovász et Szentmargitha (1754–1820), member of a prominent noble family of the same county.

His maternal grandparents were the nobleman Ferenc Sümeghy, jurist, landowner, and Marianna Póka de Pókafalva (1728–1797).

János Nepomuk Farkas de Boldogfa directed the administrative and judicial part of the county for more than two years, and consumed Deák's plans for canalizing the lakes of Szévizi and also the drying and changing the course of the rivers and modifying the ponds of Szentmihály, Pölöske, Fakos, Pötréte and Hahót.