Афанасий was born about 1735. Афанасий's father is Филип Малцов and his mother is <Unknown>. His paternal grandfather is <Unknown> and his paternal grandmother was Федосья Фотиевна-Малцова. He had three brothers and a sister, named Григорий, Осип, Кирил and Настасья. He is the second youngest of the five children.