The island was first recorded in 1597 as "Norder Ough". In 1630 there was a permanent estate on Noorderoog that was inhabited by a beach warden. This dwelling was destroyed in the Burchardi flood of 1634. Later, another family settled there but their house was washed away in the February flood of 1825. From then, Norderoog remained uninhabited. It is the only hallig that does not have a terp for dwelling. Since 1909, the island is owned by "Verein Jordsand", an association that promotes the creation of bird refuges along the German North Sea coast.