He spent his early childhood at the home of his paternal grandfather, Pehr Gustaf Svinhufvud af Qvalstad (a provincial treasurer of Häme), at Rapola, where the family had lived for five generations.
Ia menjalani masa kecilnya di rumah kakek pihak ayahnya, Pehr Gustaf Svinhufvud af Qvalstad (bendahara provinsi Häme), di Rapola, dimana keluarganya tinggal selama lima generasi.