 Jan Bułhak was born on October 6, 1876 in Ostaszyn (), near Navahrudak (), Russian Empire (now Belarus).His parents were Walery Antoni Stanisław Bułhak of Syrokomla and Józefa née Haciska of Roch, both local landowners in Ostaszyn.In the village of () near Navahrudak, not far from St. Ann's Roman Catholic church (), there are four graves of Jan Bułhak's ancestors.