This is a late medieval topographic name for one resident by a 'new stream'. The name is Scandinavian and specifically Swedish and presumably refers to a person who dwelt by a 'canal' i.e. a man made 'stream' or possibly a stream created by geographical change, and for which a suitable word did not exist. The name derives from the Old Norse pre 7th century 'straumr' - later 'strom' meaning a river or wide stream, and 'ny' - new. The name is first found recorded in England in Yorkshire and London in the early 19th century. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Charles Richard Nystrom. which was dated 1813 Christened in St. Dunstan's, Stepney, London. during the reign of King George III, Farmer George 1760-1820 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.