The Sgouros (), also known as Sgouropoulos (), Sgouromallaios (), Sgouranos (), Sgouris (), Sgourismenos (), Sgouritzis (), and Sgourogiannis (), was a Byzantine Greek noble family – composed of multiple branches – that originated from Nafplio.

Name The name of the family derives from the Greek adjective (), which is indicative of wavy hair. According to linguist and philologist Georgios Babiniotis, the adjective derives either from Ancient Greek (γυρός) 'curved, round' with the introduction of the prefix σ-, or from the noun (σβούρος), which might have been detached from (σβουρό-μαλλος).

History The Sgouros family was a rich and powerful family, which first appeared in the middle of the 11th c. in Nafplio. From the very beginning right until the 15th c., it was part of the Byzantine provincial middle class. Members of the family appear to hold both political and ecclesiastical positions, and they were also distinguished as scholars, scribes, orators, etc. The Byzantinist Alexander Kazhdan, who was a notable scholar of mid-Byzantine and late Byzantine society, identified twelve representatives of the family during the reign of Alexios I Komnenos (1081-1118). With the appearance of the most prominent Sgouroi at the end of the 12th and beginning of the 13th centuries (Theodoros and Leon), the family arranged marriages with the noble family of Angeloi.

Although many Sgouroi were distinguished in public administrative positions from the time of Alexios I Komnenos, they never seem to have been members of the aristocratic court in Constantinople. Some of the most important positions held by the recorded members – mainly from 1086/1088 AD and thereafter – were those of the protospatharios, sebastos, chartoularios, proedros, domestikos, protostrator, logothetis, megas hetaireiarches, protonotarios, prokathimenos, protallagator, and sebastohypertatos (by Leon Sgouros).

Members There have been about 90 recorded members of the family and its branches between the 11th and 15th centuries. Of those, only four were women. Furthermore, 37 belonged to the branch of (one related through marriage to the Doukas family), 16 to (one related through marriage to the Doukas family), 14 to , four to (two related through marriage to the Palaiologoi family), two , and one , , and respectively. The following table lists them chronologically.

NamesDatesNotes11th c.protospatharios1086proedros and accountant1088chartoularios tou sekretou1192, 1197grammariannotable grammarian and notary1193scribe1180/1189 – father of Leon Sgouros and archon of Nafpliodespot of Argolid and Corinthia, sebastohypertatoswife of Leon Sgourosbrother of Leon Sgouros and garrison commander of Nafpliobefore 1264reader or lector, husband of (landholder of Cephalonia)1279from ConstantinopleLoscuro (Lo Sguro)1277prison guard in Licolourafo (maybe Salamis)follower of bishop from New Heraclea (western Minor Asia)clergyman of the diocese of Varavlonia (Avlona)1283priest in Smyrnaemployee (?) of Gregory II of Constantinopletreasurer of Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinopledomestikos of eastern themata, landowner of Lembiotissa Monastery (near Smyrna), slave of Andronikos II Palaiologos, pansebastos sebastos (Sguro-mally)protostrator, protallagator of Morea1297 – imperial envoy (correspondence with Maximus Planudes)1298 and afterlandowner (?)13th c.hymnographer (?)beginning of 14th c.wheat trader in Constantinopleparoikos in Vrasta, Chalkidikiparoikos in Selas, Chalkidiki1304paroikos in Lemnoscorrespondence with Michael Gabrasdeacon and lector in Mamouderta, Bithynia1314priest in the suburb of Mina, Constantinople1314cleric in Thessalonica1315dignitary (correspondence with Michael Gabras)sebastos in Laconiaparoikos in Rodolivos, Serresbefore 1318landowner in Psalida, Chalkidikibefore 1319founder of St George's Monastery in Artaki (Cyzicus)1319paroikos in Malouka, Strymon1320paroikos in Melitziani, Strymonbefore 1321resident in Pteleon, Chalkidiki1320/1321witness of sale deed by Archistratigos' Monastery of Zichni1321paroikos in Lorotos, Chalkidiki1321sebastos, primate of Ioannina (in chrysobull by Andronikos II Palaiologos)1322from Thessalonica (?)clerk of Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople1327archon of Thessalonica1330brother-in-law of Ioannis Laskaris and Georgios Padiatis (?)1331/1332donor of the Theotokos' Monastery in Kakodiki, Chania1331/1332donoress of the Theotokos' Monastery in Kakodiki, Chania1331/1332donor of the Theotokos' Monastery in Kakodiki, Chania1334landowner in Katroula, Constantinoplebefore 1338sebastos (?)1341/1342servant of John VI Kantakouzenosbroker in Constantinople, landowner of Great Lavra's Monastery, Mount Athosfirst half of 14th c.correspondent (correspondence with Georgios Oinaiotis)merchant in Constantinople, originating from Piges, Mysia1357priest in Constantinople1357priest in Constantinople1357priest and taboularios in Constantinople1357priest in ConstantinopleDamiano Sgurothoma ()cowherd in Nafplio1361–1364judge (?) and priorscribe (?)1362, 1377 and priorjudge of military camp in Rafalion, Chalkidiki1364donor of Kolyva, Constantinople; could be the same individual as ()1373–1376cleric and editor of documents in Thessalonicainterpreter in Constantinople (correspondence with Demetrios Kydones)soldier (travelled from Thessalonica to Constantinople)1387priest and lawyer in Chrysoupoli, Strymondeacon of Hagia Sophia, Constantinoplecleric and owner of house in Constantinoplesecond half of 14th c.scribe (?)second half of 14th c. – beginning of 15th c.protonotarios at the court of Komnenoi in Trebizond, lyricist1400landowner in Constantinople1400employee of Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople1409paroikos in Pinsona, Chalkidiki1415worker in the salt pans of Thessalonica1415worker in the salt pans of Thessalonica1419cleric, chartoularios of Hagios Demetrios' Monastery in Thessalonica1422landowner in Meteora1426native of Sparta, Peloponnese1430domestikos and composer, or laterscribe of Bessarion1446from Chios (?)first half of 15th c.archon of the churches, deacon, composer, domestikos of Hagia Sophia, ConstantinoplePetrus Sguro ()military captain in Heraklion, Cretearchon of Karytaina15th c.orator and writer (against Latins)middle of 15th c. (?)reader or lector (?)

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