He had several older brothers, including the Lord of Aizu Domain, Katamori MATSUDAIRA; the Lord of Owari Domain, Yoshikatsu TOKUGAWA; and the head of the Hitotsubashi family Mochinaga TOKUGAWA.
兄に会津藩主松平容保、尾張藩主徳川慶勝、一橋家当主徳川茂徳などがいる。