It is indeed possible for someone to be born in a certain Madhab without really knowing that Madhab particularly means. What should a person do if they find themselves in such a situation? Shaykh Yasir Qadhi answers beautifully.
A Madhab is a human attempt to arrive at the Shari'ah of Allah. These were the efforts of scholars to codify the Shari'ah. There are 4 Madhabs - Hanafi, Shafi, Maliki and Hanbali. The Madhab is a set of parameters or Usool on how to approach the Islamic text when in a conflicting situation. This is why the bulk of the Ummah follows a particular Madhab to make one’s life easier and is the historical norm.