he was born in christiania as a son of judge edvard omsen heiberg (1829–1884) and minna rode (1836–1917). he was a brother of gunnar and jakob vilhelm rode heiberg, as well as a first cousin of eivind and gustav adolf lammers heiberg and a first cousin once removed of bernt, axel and edvard heiberg, and uncle of hans heiberg.