 The alley is named after the merchant and burgher Mårten Trotzig (1559–1617), who, born in Wittenberg, immigrated to Stockholm in 1581, and bought properties in the alley in 1597 and 1599, also opening a shop there.His original German name is said to have been "Traubtzich", but he is also mentioned under various other names, such as "Trutzich", "Trutzigh", "Trusick", "Trotuitz", "Tråtzich", "Trotzigh" and "Tråsse".According to sources from the late-16th century, he dealt in iron and later copper, by 1595 he had sworn his burgher oath, and was later to become one of the richest merchants in Stockholm.