Many shuto were from aristocracy of the middle and low classes, as well as samurai families and shokan (an officer governing shoen (manor)), some of whom were skilled in martial arts, and as a result they made up a large share of Sohei (priest soldiers); however, the component of the shuto was different among temples, so that in Enryaku-ji Temple the shuto was made up of the priests of higher aristocratic origin, and others who were excluded from shuto organized 'doshu' separately.
中下級の貴族や武家・荘官などの出身者が多かったため、武術などの心得を持つものもあり、武装化して僧兵を構成したのもこの身分が中心であった（ただし、延暦寺では衆徒をより上級貴族出身が占め、このクラスや衆徒から放逐された者達が別に「堂衆」を組織するなど、寺院ごとに組織のあり方に違いがあった）。