He was born at Saltrø in Stokken as a son of Christen and Guro Knudsen, née Aadnesdatter.
Jørgen Christian Knudsen had one sister Elen Serine, who married Johan Jeremiassen, and one brother Gunnar.
[3] Gunnar Knudsen would later become Prime Minister of Norway for the Liberal Party.
[5] Their daughter Gunda married the British diplomat Christopher Lintrup Paus.
[8] He also represented the city in the Parliament of Norway, where he advocated and defended the union with Sweden.