He was married to a daughter of Matsudaira Yorihiro of Takamatsu Domain, but had no heir. However, after his retirement, he quickly had four sons by as many concubines, and one of these sons, Sanada Yukiyo (1870-1948) was ennobled with the title of baron ("danshaku") for his services in the First Sino-Japanese War. Sanada Yukinori died in 1869 at the age of 34.