Ryan Thomas Gosling lahir di [[London, Ontario]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/Canada---World/Arts/2011-01-04/article-2089490/Ryan-Gosling-says-onscreen-intimacy-in-Blue-Valentine-just-happened/1|title=Ryan Gosling Says Onscreen Intimacy in 'Blue Valentine' 'Just Happened'|newspaper= [[The Guardian]]|date= 4 Januari 2011|accessdate= 26 Januari 2012}}</ref> dari pasangan Thomas Ray Gosling, seorang penjual keliling untuk sebuah [[pabrik kertas]],<ref name=autogenerated4>{{cite news|url=http://www.thestar.com/unassigned/article/173940--from-mouse-to-big-cheese|newspaper= [[Toronto Star]]|title=From Mouse to Big Cheese|accessdate= 26 Januari 2012|first=John|last=Hiscock|date= 25 Agustus 2006}}</ref> dan Donna, seorang sekretaris yang terkualifikasi sebagai guru sekolah tinggi pada 2011.<ref name=paper /><ref>{{cite news|title= Let's Hear It from Goofy Mr. Gosling|author=|url=http://entertainment.inquirer.net/8153/let’s-hear-it-from-goofy-mr-gosling|newspaper= [[Philippine Daily Inquirer]]|date=|accessdate= 26 Januari 2012}}</ref> Ayahnya adalah keturunan Inggris, Skotlandia, dan [[Perancis Kanada]]; leluhur Ryan, George Edward Gosling, lahir di [[Paddington]], [[London]], Inggris.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/2012/10/11/20275396.html |title=Bieber, Lavigne, Gosling related: Report |date=11 Oktober 2012 |accessdate=31 Agustus 2013 |publisher=Canoe.ca }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://storage.canoe.ca/v1/suns-prod-images/file/1297323968718_LavigneBieberGosling_relationship.pdf |title=Justin Bieber, Ryan Gosling, and Avril Lavigne Relationship |publisher=Ancestry.ca |accessdate=31 Agustus 2013 }}</ref> Orangtua Gosling adalah penganut [[Gereja Yesus Kristus dari Orang-orang Suci Zaman Akhir|Mormon]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.beliefnet.com/Entertainment/Movies/2007/10/In-Love-With-A-Real-Doll.aspx |title=In Love with a Real Doll |author= |date= |publisher= Beliefnet |accessdate= 26 Januari 2012}}</ref> dan Gosling berkata bahwa agama tersebut mempengaruhi setiap aspek kehidupan mereka.<ref name="guardian 2007-02-18">{{cite news|title=I Live on Skid Row. You Can't Filter Out Reality There|author=|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2007/feb/18/awardsandprizes.oscars|newspaper= [[The Guardian]]|date= 21 Februari 2007|accessdate= 26 Januari 2012 |first=Gaby|last=Wood|location=London}}</ref> Karena pekerjaan ayahnya, mereka "berpindah-pindah tempat"<ref name=autogenerated4 /> dan Gosling tinggal di [[Cornwall, Ontario]],<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.tribute.ca/people/ryan-gosling/8468/ |title=Ryan Gosling Biography |author= |date= |work= [[Tribute (majalah)|Tribute]] |accessdate= 26 Januari 2012}}</ref> maupun [[Burlington, Ontario]].<ref>Shea, Courtney. (5 Januari 2011) [http://www.torontolife.com/daily/hype/telling-tales-hype/2011/01/05/spotted-ryan-gosling-getting-his-canuck-christmas-on-in-burlington/ Spotted! Ryan Gosling getting his Canuck Christmas on in Burlington |telling Tales]. torontolife.com.</ref> Orangtuanya bercerai ketika ia berusia tiga belas tahun,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/apr/09/ryan-gosling-directing-lost-river-interview |title=Ryan Gosling: 'If I had to shake it like a showgirl, I was going to do it' |publisher=''The Guardian'' |date=9 April 2015 |accessdate=9 April 2015 }}</ref> dan ia dan kakaknya Mandi tinggal bersama dengan ibu mereka<ref name="paper">{{Cite news|title=The Oddball|work= [[Time (majalah)|Time]]|date= 4 Oktober 2007|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1668471,00.html|accessdate= 26 Januari 2012}}</ref>
