Like her father Morris Afia, Clara Afia was born in Constantinople, claimed to be of Spanish nationality, and was a carpet repairer working at home, although in a 1921 London census, she was listed as unemployed. Her mother was Dora Afia, a native of Brăila, Romania and also of Spanish nationality. In 1921, Dora was 38 years old and tended to “home duties.”

            Clara Afia was the eldest of four siblings: Victor Afia, age 13, and Albert Afia, 10, both of whom shared their older sister’s birthplace and nationality; Pearl Afia, 8, and Fortune Afia, 1, both natives of Shoreditch and of Spanish nationality.

            The Afia family’s relationship to carpet repairer Solomon Afia has not been substantiated.