Surumu, a chestnut, was foaled in 1974 at the Jacobs family's Gestüt Fährhof near Bremen. He was from the Dark Ronald male line. His sire was Literat and his dam was Surama by Reliance II. Literat was a German 2000 Guineas winner, who, as a hot favourite and ridden by Lester Piggott, broke down in the Deutsches Derby, nevertheless finishing 5th in that race.