Olof Svensson was born on 11 May 1887 in Osby, Kristianstad County, Sweden, to Sven, a farm hand working for the state (born 4 October 1856 at Osby, Kristianstad County), and Hanna (nee Persdotter; b. 8 January 1856 at Osby) Persson. His parents had married 10 January 1878.

His known siblings were Sigrid, b. 4 October 1878, Thilda, b. 14 March 1882, Nils Johan, b. 2 May 1884, and twins Harald and Kristian, b. 11 October 1889 (Harald died 3 June 1890), Carl Ossian, b. 28 January 1891, Ellen, b. 16 June 1893, Annie, b. 24 November 1894, and Arthur Wilhelm, b. 30 November 1897.

He was travelling from Björkeberga, Osby, with Eberhard Fischer, but their ultimate destination is unknown. He obtained his emigration certificate on 29 March.

There is a song about the Olof and Eberhard and it says that they were working "at Skeinge" and that the last that was heard of them was a letter sent from Southampton on 9 April.

The two men boarded the Titanic as third class passengers and died in the sinking. Olof's body was never found. In their church book he is noted as "died on Atlantic with S/S Titanick" (sic).

Olof's father Sven Persson had died in 1902 and Hanna was dependent on her son's income. The Mansion House Fund paid 874.08 Kr (£48) to her on 23 January 1913. 1822 Kr (£100) damage claims were also paid to her.