Nubar was born Nubar Nubarian (Armenian: Նուպար Նուպարեան) in Smyrna in January 1825, the son of an Armenian merchant named Mgrdich, who had married a relative of Boghos Bey Yusufian, an influential minister of Muhammad Ali.
Nubar ka lindur me emrin Nubar Nubarian (Armenisht: Նուպար Նուպարեան) në Izmir, në janar 1825, i biri i një tregtari armen me emrin Mgrdich, i cili kishte martuar një të afërm të Boghos Bej Yusufian, një ministër me ndikim të lartë tek Muhammad Ali.