Roussos

Roussos is a Greek surname (often rendered in Greek as Ρούσσος) that appears among people of Greek origin and in the Greek diaspora. The name is most widely recognized in connection with Greece’s contemporary music scene, but it is also found across various fields where Greek families have settled.

The most prominent bearer of the name in international popular culture is Demis Roussos (born Artemios Ventouris-Roussos; 1946–2015). He was a Greek singer and musician who first gained prominence as a member of the progressive rock group Aphrodite’s Child, formed in the late 1960s with fellow Greek artists including Vangelis. After the group’s activities, Roussos pursued a solo career and achieved global fame in the 1970s with his distinctive high tenor voice and immersive ballads and world-music-influenced songs. His international hits include Forever and Ever, My Friend the Wind, and Goodbye, My Love, Goodbye. He remained a recognizable figure in European pop music through the 1970s and early 1980s and continued to perform internationally until his death in 2015.

In addition to Demis Roussos, the surname is carried by other individuals of Greek origin, including professionals in arts, sports, and academia. As a transliteration from Greek, Roussos can also appear as Rousos or similar variants in English-language contexts. The name reflects its Greek heritage and its presence in the Greek-speaking world and its global diaspora.