Soutsos

Soutzos or Soutsos (Romanian: Sutu). Greek family from Epirus originally known by the surname Drakos.

The family migrated and settled in Constantinople towards the end of the 14th century, but returned home to Epirus after the fall of Constantinople in 1453.

By order of the Sultan, the family returned to Constantinople where a member of the family was employed as a “plumber” by the Turkish Authorities. Soon he was known by the nickname “Soutsis”. It did not take very long for the family to use the nickname as part of the surname (Soutzos-Draco or Draco-Soutsos) and finally change it to Soutsos.

The name change did not affect the family relatives back in Epirus, they are still known as Drakos today.

The family, now known as Soutsos, grew into prominence and power, resettled in Phanari and joined the Phanariots. In the following centuries, the family produced numerous high ranking public servants as well as three Voivodes (Princes) of Wallachia and or Moldavia .

Alexandru Soutzos (1758-1828) Prince of Moldavia and Prince of Wallachia. Married Eufrosyne Callimachi.

Mihai I Soutzos (1730-1803) Prince of Moldavia and Wallachia. Married (her second husband) Princess Sevastie Callimachi, daughter of Prince Ioan.

Mihai II Soutzos (1784-1864). Prince of Moldavia. Married to Princess Roxane Karatzas.

The Soutsos family returned and resettled in Greece after the liberation of Greece.