Sveinn Eiríksson was born on December 15, 1856 in Rangárvallasýsla. He emigrated west to Spanish Fork, Utah in 1885. His parents, Ólafur Eiríksson and Rúnveldur Rúnólfsdóttir, emigrated in 1881. Sveinn later lived in Indepenence, Missouri and corresponded regularly with his sister Ingveldur until 1920.