This Finnish surname has two possible origins, although the translation in both cases is much the same. The name is habitational and also diminutive or patronymic, and describes the son or kinsman who lives at the farm belonging to "Noor", or at North Farm. The name consists of the elements "Noor", which means "North", but may also be a pre 7th Century Finnish personal name, plus the Norse-Viking "tun" translating as "farmstead or small hamlet", plus the patronymic or diminutive "en", implying kinsman or little or son of Noor. Perhaps surprisingly Finnish and Scandinavian surnames are both much later in creation by six Centuries than, for example, British surnames, and they are overwhelmingly (like Welsh), patronymic in some form. The name recordings include Jacob Hennricson Nortunen, who married Maria Johansdr at Isokyro on June 8th 1820, Finland, then being a Grand Duchy of Russia until 1917. Simon Nortunen, son of Henr Erickss Nortunen and Maria Thomadr, was christened on October 25th 1743 at Isokyro, and Jacob, son of Henric and Maria Nortunen, was christened on April 5th 1745. Jacob Henricson Nortunen married Maria Johansdr on June 8th 1820 at Isokyro. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Henry Erickson Nortunen, which was dated October 25th 1743, a christening witness at Isokyro, Finland, during the reign of Emperor Ivan V1 of Russia, 1740 - 1759. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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