Mahathir wuxuu ku dhashay gurigii waalidkiis oo ku yaal xaafad sabool ah oo ku taal Alor Setar, caasimadda gobolka Kedah, British Malaya, 10kii Luulyo 1925. Aabihiis, Mohamad, wuxuu ahaa arday isku dhafan oo Malay iyo Hindiya ah; hooyadiis, Wan Tempawan, waxay ahayd Malay. Mahathir's non-Malay ancestry, oo uu inta badan aamusay intii uu ku jiray xirfadiisa siyaasadeed, waa muuqaal ay wadaagaan lixdii ra'iisul wasaare ee Malaysia. Laakiin dhinac kale oo ah dhalashadii Mahathir ayaa ka soocay shantii kale: kuma uusan dhalan qoyskii aristocracy ama qoys caan ah oo caan ah ama diimeed ama siyaasadeed.
waxay dhashay cunug ay ugu horeysay, Marina, sanadkii 1957, ka hor inta aysan uurka ka qaadin sadex kale ayna korsadaan sadex kale