[3] The family, apparently the richest in independent Greece, stemmed from the younger son of an Albanian peasant.

[5] After the family moved to Hydra, they adopted the surname "Zervas" which was later dropped when Lazaros' grandfather, Hatzigeorgios Zervas, visited a family friend in the Kountouria region and returned wearing a local to that area dress, adopting the nickname of "Kountouriotis" which eventually replaced the surname.

At the age of 14, Lazaros became involved in the commercial activities of his father, representing him in Hydra while the elder Kountouriotis was on business in Genoa.

After his father's assassination in 1799, Lazaros continued running the family's interests and grew it substantially.

While serving as a Senator and considered as the First Citizen of Greece, he died on 12 June 1852 and a five-day period of national mourning followed.