Ganwyd Carwyn yn [[Abertawe]] aac fe'i magwyd ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr mewn teulu o siaradwyr Cymraeg.<ref name="BBCWalesBio">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/wales_politics/8388696.stm|title=Profile: Carwyn Jones|publisher=BBC Wales|accessdate=1 Rhagfyr 2009 | date=1 Rhagfyr 2009}}</ref> Roedd yn ddisgybl yn Ysgol Gyfun Brynteg ym [[Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr|Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr]] ac aeth ymlaen i astudio ym [[Prifysgol Cymru, Aberystwyth]],<ref name="WoLProf">{{cite web|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/welsh-politics/welsh-politics-news/2009/12/01/profile-of-carwyn-jones-91466-25292414/|title=Profile of Carwyn Jones|publisher=Wales Online|accessdate=1 December 2009|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120129092402/http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/welsh-politics/welsh-politics-news/2009/12/01/profile-of-carwyn-jones-91466-25292414/|archivedate=29 Ionawr 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref> lle ymunodd a'r Blaid Lafur yn ystod [[Streic y Glowyr (1984–85)|streic y glowyr 1984-85]].<ref name="BBCWalesBio"/>