Heinrich Rudolf Hertz was born in Hamburg, then a free city within the German Confederation, to Gustav Ferdinand Hertz, a lawyer and senator, and Anna Elisabeth Pfefferkorn. He came from a well-to-do family, providing him with a supportive environment that fostered his intellectual curiosity and pursuit of knowledge from a young age.

From a young age, Hertz displayed exceptional intellectual abilities, showing proficiency in both scientific and humanistic subjects. He excelled in languages, learning Arabic and Sanskrit, and demonstrating remarkable skills in manual arts. His early education reflected a broad intellectual curiosity, typical of gifted individuals.