Their tribal origin is not known precisely, but Turkish historian Faruk Sümer attributed them to Sunud tribe of Mongols. According to him, Sutai was just an abbreviation for Sunitai (Mongolian: Сөнөд + ай, lit. 'Belonging to Sunud').[4] Ishayahu Landa too believes that Sutay was member of Sunud.[5] Sutay served Ghazan, Öljaitü and Abu Sa'id until his death in 1332.