His father was shugo (provincial constable) of Echigo Province, Fusakata UESUGI, who was born in the Yamanouchi-Uesugi clan and became a member of the Echigo-Uesugi clan, and Norizane was a third child.
父は山内上杉氏の生まれで越後上杉氏に入った越後国守護上杉房方で、3男。