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.
Han tilbragte sin tidlige barndom i hjemmet hos sin farfar, Pehr Gustaf Svinhufvud af Qvalstad (en provinskæmner fra Häme) i Rapola, hvor hans familie havde boet i fem generationer.