The Sumarokov-Elston family - family of Felix-senior

[Steph]

I have been wondering if someone could help me about the Sumarakov-Elston genealogy.

Are there any members of this illustrious family living by now?

Thank you very much for your help.

Steph

[Forum Admin]

Hope this helps. It is from the 1991 Ferrand book (published only in French):

[Steph]

 

Thank you dear Forum Administrator. As I am French, it will not be difficult for me to read it.

By the way, do you know if there is a French translation of "Lost splendors"?

Thank you very much

Steph

[Forum Admin]

Chere Steph
C'est une autre chose si vous-etes Français! Je suis sur qu'il y a un version français de "Lost Splendor" si vous pouvez de trouver. Aussi, je vous propose le livre "Les Princes YOUSSOUPOFF & les comtes SOUMAROKOFF-ELSTON, Chroniques et Photographies"  par M. Jacques FERRAND, Paris 1991. C'est le meilleur oeuvre en (de?) cette sujet. C'est rare, et par consequent assez chere, mais excellent.

Rob

[Lisa]

Hihi! C'est tout simplement pour l'édition originale Avant l'exil, 1887-1919 et Après l'exil. Mais ces deux livres ont été replubliés dans les années 80 sous le titre de Félix Youssoupov (ou Youssoupoff en fonction)Mémoires.
Voilà! Bonne lecture!

[Lisa]

voilà quelques liens où tu peux les trouver pour pas très cher:
http://www.priceminister.com/offer/buy/1491452/Youssoupoff-Felix-Memoires-Livre.html

http://www.abebooks.fr/search/sortby/3/an/F%E9lix+Youssoupoff

[katusha]

You asked recently about the Soumarokoff-Elston family.
In reply...I am the daughter of Sophie Soumarokoff-Elston, grand-daughter of Michael Soumarokoff-Elston and Natasha Bellik. I would be grateful if you could tell me your interest in our family>
Kate Anstey

[carolinehepworth]

Does anyone know where the Elston part of the name originates from as my ancestors were Elston and I believe there is some connection?
Thanks Caroline

[Forum Admin]

Felix Nicholaievich Elston (1820-1877) married Helene Sergeievna Countess Sumarkov and was given Imperial permission to take the combined title "Sumarkov-Elston" in 1859.  According to Jacques Ferrand's history of the family, the exact origins of "Elston" are unclear.  There are some family "stories" that he was an illegitimate son of a "Hohenzollern Prince" but this may have been made up to give him some "royal pedigree".  

[Tasha_R]

I don't know if Katusha can shed any light on this, but I have seen two theories: one that he was the offspring of a liaison between  Prince Friedrich Wilhelm IV and Countess Tiesenhausen and the other that he was from a liaison between the succeding Prince Wilhelm I and the Countess Andrassey.

There seems to be a bit of information floating around the net that there were indeed such liaisons.  In "Lost Splendor", Felix recounts the Copuntess Tiesenhausen theory.  I was surprised that this genealogy showed the other.

I suppose it is understandable that one might suspect the other because of how similar the senior Count Elston resembles Prince Wilhelm I.  However, seeing as how Wilhelm and Friedrich Wilhelm were brothers, even though they did not look very much like each other, they certainly shared DNA and their offspring could have looked like either, I suppose.

Best regards,
Tasha

[carolinehepworth]

Thanks Forum Administrator for your reply but it doesnt shed any light on where the 'Elston' part came from.  

Katusha  Kate Anstey - would you be able to shed any light on your ancestors?

Hope you can help
Thanks
carolinehepworth

[Forum Admin]

Sorry caroline.
I guess I omitted the part that the name "Elston" was made up, supposedly, as the stories go, taking his mother's maiden name to "protect" his illegitimate father, but there is in fact NO one named Elston as a possible candidate for the mother.  It appears that he was not actually related to anyone from the Elston family.

[Tasha_R]

According to "Lost Splendor", written by Prince Felix Youssoupoff, Felix Elston (his paternal grandfather) "... was said to be the son of Frederick William IV, King of Prussia, and Countess Tiesenhausen, maid of honor to the Empress Alexandra, the King's sister. "

More: "...their secret love affair resulted in the birth of a son, Felix Elston.  Spiteful contemporaries construed this name as the contraction of three French words: elle s'e'tonne (she is astonished) which supposedly expressed the feelings of the young mother."

Hope this helps,
Tasha

[carolinehepworth]

Thank you Forum Administrator and Tasha for your helpful replies.
Caroline

[Reco]

Dear katusha,

Our interest goes on Felix Félixovitch Sumarakov-Elston who married the princess Zenaide Nicolaievna Yusupov and on their descendants.

The other members of your family do not have much importance here...