 Robert Suckling, his maternal grandfather, was of an old Norfolk family, which counted among its members the poet Sir John Suckling and Horatio Nelson's uncle, Maurice William Suckling.On the death of Robert's son, Maurice, without issue on 1 December 1820, Alfred Inigo took the surname and arms of Suckling and succeeded to the estates.He was educated at Pembroke College, Cambridge, where he matriculated in May 1814 and graduated LL.B.