Mauro Ramos da Mota e Albuquerque was born in Recife on 16 August 1911, to José Feliciano Mota Albuquerque, a lawyer, and Aline de M. Albuquerque. He was married to Marly Mota, with whom he had 4 children: Maurício Mota, Eduardo Mota, Sérgio Mota and Tereza Alexandrina Mota.