Japanese clans
This is a list of Japanese clans. The ancient clans (Gōbboku) mentioned in the Nihonshoki and Kojiki lost their political power before the Heian period. Instead of gozoku, new aristocracies, Kuge families emerged in the period. In the late of the Heian period, warrior class clans (Samurai) had gradually gained power and subsequently dominated the country.
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Ancient-era clan names (Honsei/本姓)
Imperial House
Kuge
Gempeitōkitsu (源平藤橘?), 4 noble clans of ancient Japan:
- Abe clan (阿部氏/安倍氏) - descended from Prince Ōhiko, son of Emperor Kōgen; no direct relation to the Abe clan of Ōshū (安倍氏).
- Abe clan of Ōshū (安倍氏) - descended from Abihiko (disputed); no direct relation to the Kōgen-descent Abe clan (阿部氏), famous for Abe no Hirafu and Abe no Yoritoki.
- Aya clan of Sanuki province - According to the Kojiki descended from Prince Takekaiko, grandson of Emperor Keikō.
- Imube clan (忌部氏) - descended from the kami Ame no Futotama no Mikoto (legendary), and his descendant Ame no Tomi no Mikoto companion in arms of Emperor Jimmu.
- Hashiji clan (土師氏) - descended from the kami Nomi no Sukune (legendary).
- Ki clan (紀氏) - descended from Emperor Kōgen by the Minister Takeshi-uchi no Sukune; famous for Ki no Tsurayuki.
- Kusakabe clan (日下部氏) - descended from 9th Emperor Kaika, or 36th Emperor Kōtoku (disputed).
- Mononobe clan (物部氏) - descended from the kami Nigihayahi no Mikoto (legendary), a descendant of the elder brother of Ninigi no Mikoto (legendary), great-grandfather of Emperor Jimmu; famous for Mononobe no Moriya.
- Nakatomi clan (中臣氏) - descended from the kami Ame no Koyane no Mikoto (legendary), and his descendant Ame no Taneko no Mikoto companion in arms of Emperor Jimmu; origin of Fujiwara clan.
- Ō clan (多氏) - descended from Prince Kamuyaimimi no Mikoto, son of Emperor Jimmu.
- Ochi clan (越智氏) - descended from Mononobe clan.
- Ōe clan (大江氏) - descended from Hashiji clan.
- Ōtomo clan (大伴氏) - descended from Michi-omi no Mikoto companion in arms of Emperor Jimmu; no direct relation to the immigrant Ōtomo clan (大友氏) or feudal Ōtomo clan (大友氏); famous for Ōtomo no Yakamochi.
- Sugawara clan (菅原氏) - descended from Hashiji clan; famous for Sugawara no Michizane
- Soga clan (蘇我氏) - descended from Emperor Kōgen, by the Minister Takeshi-uchi no Sukune; famous for Soga no Umako.
- Takahashi clan (高橋氏)
Immigrant clans
Feudal-era clan names (Myōji/苗字)
- Abe clan of Mikawa (阿部氏) - descended from Emperor Kōgen and the ancient Abe clan (阿部氏); no direct relation to the Abe clan of Ōshū (安倍氏).
- Adachi clan (安達氏) - descended from Fujiwara clan.
- Akahoshi clan (赤星氏) - cadet branch of Kikuchi clan.
- Akamatsu clan (赤松氏) - descended from Murakami Genji.
- Akechi clan (明智氏) - cadet branch of Toki clan who descended from Seiwa Genji; famous for Akechi Mitsuhide.
- Akita clan (秋田氏) - descended from Abe clan of Ōshū.
- Akiyama clan (秋山氏) - cadet branch of Takeda clan who descended from Seiwa Genji.
- Akizuki clan (秋月氏) - descended from Prince Achi no Omi of the Chinese Han Dynasty.
- Amago clan (尼子氏) - cadet branch of Sasaki clan who descended from Uda Genji.
- Amakasu clan (甘粕氏) - cadet branch of Nitta clan who descended from Seiwa Genji (disputed).
- Amakusa clan (天草氏) - descended from Ōkura clan.
- Anayama clan (穴山氏) - cadet branch of Takeda clan who descended from Seiwa Genji.
- Andō clan - descended from Abe clan of Ōshū, by Abe no Hirafu.
- Asakura clan (朝倉氏) - descended from Prince Kusakabe son of Emperor Temmu.
- Asano clan (浅野氏) - cadet branch of Toki clan who descended from Seiwa Genji.
- Ashikaga clan (足利氏) - descended from Seiwa Genji; famous for Ashikaga Shogunate; no direct relation to the Fujiwara-descent Ashikaga clan
- Ashikaga clan (Fujiwara) (足利氏) - descended from Fujiwara Hokke; no direct relation to the Genji-descent Ashikaga clan.
- Ashina clan (蘆名氏) - cadet branch of Miura clan who descended from Kammu Heishi.
- Aso clan (阿蘇氏) - descended from Emperor Jimmu by the Ō clan.
- Asō clan (麻生氏) - cadet branch of Utsunomiya clan who descended from Fujiwara Hokke; famous for Tarō Asō.
- Atagi clan (安宅氏) - cadet branch of Ogasawara clan who descended from Seiwa Genji (disputed).
- Azai clan (浅井氏) - descended from Fujiwara clan; famous for Azai Nagamasa.
- Bitō clan (尾藤氏) - descended from Fujiwara Hokke.
- Chiba clan (千葉氏) - descended from Kammu Heishi.
- Chōsokabe clan (長宗我部氏) - descended from Hata clan(disputed); famous for Chosokabe Motochika.
- Date clan (伊達氏) - also known as Idate clan or Idachi clan, descended from Fujiwara Hokke; famous for Date Masamune.
- Doi clan (土井氏) - cadet branch of Toki clan who descended from Seiwa Genji (disputed); no direct relation to the Heishi-descent Doi clan.
- Doi clan (土肥氏) - descended from Kammu Heishi; no direct relation to the Genji-descent Doi clan.
- Gotō clan - cadet branch of Takeda clan who descended from Seiwa Genji.
- Hachisuka clan (蜂須賀氏) - cadet branch of Ashikaga clan by the Shiba clan who descended from Seiwa Genji, famous for Hachisuka Masakatsu.
- Haga clan (芳賀氏) - descended from Kiyowara clan.
- Hashiba clan (羽柴氏) - also known as their honsei: Toyotomi clan (豊臣氏); descended from Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
- Hatakeyama clan (畠山氏) - descended from Kammu Heishi before 1205. After 1205 the Hatakeyama are a cadet branch of Ashikaga clan who descended from Seiwa Genji.
- Hatano clan (波多野氏) - descended from Fujiwara Hokke.
- Hayashi clan (林氏) - cadet branch of Kōno clan who descended from Prince Iyo, son of Emperor Kammu.
- Hiki clan (比企氏) - descended from Fujiwara Hokke.
- Hirano clan - descended from Prince Toneri son of Emperor Temmu, by the Kiyowara clan.
- Hitotsuyanagi clan - cadet branch of Kōno clan who descended from Prince Iyo, son of Emperor Kammu.
- Hōjō clan (北条氏) - descended from Kammu Heishi (disputed); no direct relation to the Late Hōjō clan (北条氏) or Kitajō clan (北条氏); regents of the Kamakura Shogunate.
- Late Hōjō clan (後北条氏) - also known as Hōjō clan or Go-Hōjō clan; descended from Kammu Heishi; no direct relation to the regent Hōjō clan (北条氏) or Kitajō clan (北条氏).
- Honma clan (本間氏) - also known as Homma clan or Honma clan of Sado; cadet branch of Yokoyama clan who descended from Ono no Takamura (disputed).
- Honma clan of Sakata (酒田本間氏) - cadet branch.
- Honda clan (本多氏) - descended from Fujiwara Hokke; famous for Honda Tadakatsu.
- Hosokawa clan (細川氏) - cadet branch of Ashikaga clan who descended from Seiwa Genji.
- Hosokawa Keichō family (細川京兆家) - head family.
- Hosokawa Tenkyū family (細川典厩家) - cadet branch.
- Hosokawa family of Awa (阿波細川氏) - cadet branch; descended from Hosokawa Akiharu.
- Hosokawa family of Ōshū (奥州細川家) - cadet branch; descended from Hosokawa Akiuji.
- Hotta clan - descended from Emperor Kōgen, by the Minister Takeshi-uchi no Sukune.
- Ichijō family (一条家) - descended from Fujiwara Hokke.
- Ichijō clan of Tosa (土佐一条氏) - cadet branch of Ichijō family who descended from Fujiwara Hokke.
- Ii clan (井伊氏) - descended from Fujiwara Hokke; famous for Ii Naomasa and Ii Naosuke.
- Ikeda clan (池田氏) - descended from Seiwa Genji; no direct relation to other clans called Ikeda.
- Ikeda clan of Iyo (伊予池田氏) - no direct relation to other clans called Ikeda.
- Ikeda clan of Mino (美濃池田氏) - no direct relation to other clans called Ikeda.
- Ikeda clan of Sasaki (池田氏) - cadet branch of Sasaki clan; no direct relation to other clans called Ikeda.
- Ikeda clan of Settsu (摂津池田氏) - descended from Ki clan (disputed). no direct relation to other clans called Ikeda.
- Imagawa clan (今川氏) - cadet branch of Ashikaga clan who descended from Seiwa Genji; famous for Imagawa Yoshimoto.
- Inaba clan - cadet branch of Kōno clan who descended from Prince Iyo, son of Emperor Kammu.
- Inoue clan (井上氏) - descended from Seiwa Genji.
- Inoue clan of Shinano (信濃井上氏) - head family.
- Inoue clan of Aki (安芸井上氏) - cadet branch.
- Inoue clan of Mikawa (三河井上氏) - cadet branch.
- Ishida clan (石田氏) - cadet branch of Miura clan who descended from Kammu Heishi (disputed). famous for Ishida Mitsunari
- Ishikawa clan (石川氏) - also known as Ishikawa Genji; descended from Seiwa Genji.
- Ishimaki clan (石巻氏) - descended from Fujiwara Nanke.
- Itō clan (伊東氏) - cadet branch of Kudō clan who descended from Fujiwara Nanke.
- Itomuku Clan - Clan founded by Zunaku Itomuku.
- Kamiizumi clan (上泉氏) - cadet branch of Fujiwara-descent Ashikaga clan who descended Fujiwara Hokke.
- Kagawa clan (香川氏) - descended from Kammu Heishi.
- Kikkawa clan (吉川氏) - cadet branch of Kudō clan who descended from Fujiwara Nanke. After the mid 16th century they are a cadet branch of the Mōri clan who descended from the Ōe clan, famous for Kikkawa Motoharu.
- Kikuchi clan (菊池氏) - descended from Seong of Baekje.
- Kira clan (吉良氏) - cadet branch of Ashikaga clan who descended from Seiwa Genji; famous for Kira Yoshinaka.
- Kiso clan (木曾氏) - descended from Seiwa Genji; famous for Minamoto no Yoshinaka.
- Kitabatake clan (北畠氏) - descended from Murakami Genji.
- Kitajō clan (北条氏) - also known as Kitajō clan of Echigo or Mōri Kitajō clan; cadet branch of Mōri clan; no direct relation to the Hōjō clan (北条氏) or Late Hōjō clan (北条氏).
- Kiyowara clan (清原氏) - descended from Prince Toneri, son of the Emperor Temmu (631-686).
- Kobayakawa clan (小早川氏) - cadet branch of Doi clan who descended from Kammu Heishi. After the mid 16th century they are a cadet branch of the Mōri clan who descended from the Ōe clan, famous for Kobayakawa Takakage and Kobayakawa Hideaki.
- Kodama clan (児玉氏) - descended from Fujiwara Hokke.
- Koga clan (久我家) - descended from Murakami Genji.
- Kōno clan (河野氏) - descended from Prince Iyo son of Emperor Kammu.
- Konoe family (近衛家) - descended from Fujiwara Hokke. famous for Konoe Fumimaro.
- Kudō clan (工藤氏) - descended from Fujiwara Nanke.
- Kujō family (九条家) - descended from Fujiwara Hokke.
- Kyōgoku clan (京極氏) - cadet branch of Sasaki clan who descended from Uda Genji.
- Maeda clan (前田氏) - descended from Sugawara clan. famous for Maeda Toshiie.
- Matsuda clan (松田氏) - cadet branch of Hatano clan who descended from Fujiwara Hokke.
- Matsudaira clan (松平氏) - cadet branch of Nitta clan, by the Tokugawa clan descended from Seiwa Genji (disputed); famous for Tokugawa Ieyasu.
- Matsumae clan - cadet branch of Takeda clan who descended from Seiwa Genji;
- Miura clan (三浦氏) - descended from Kammu Heishi.
- Mikumo clan (三雲氏) - cadet branch of Kodama clan who descended from Fujiwara Hokke.
- Miyoshi clan (三好氏) - cadet branch of Takeda clan, by the Ogasawara clan who descended from Seiwa Genji; no direct relation to the Fujiwara-descent Miyoshi clan (三吉氏); famous for Miyoshi Nagayoshi.
- Miyoshi clan (三吉氏) - descended from Fujiwara clan; no direct relation to the Ogasahara-descent Miyoshi clan (三好氏).
- Mogami clan (最上氏) - cadet branch of Ashikaga clan who descended from Seiwa Genji.
- Mori clan (森氏) - descended from Seiwa Genji; famous for Mori Ranmaru.
- Mōri clan (毛利氏) - descended from Ōe clan; no direct relation to the Genji-descent Mōri clan (毛利氏) or Fujiwara-descent Mōri clan (毛利氏); famous for Mōri Motonari and his sons.
- Mōri clan of Inaba (因幡毛利氏) - cadet branch.
- Mōri clan (毛利氏) - descended from Uda Genji; no direct relation to Ōe-descent Mōri clan (毛利氏) or Fujiwara-descent Mōri clan (毛利氏);
- Mōri clan (毛利氏) - descended from Fujiwara clan (disputed); no direct relation to Ōe-descent Mōri clan (毛利氏) or Genji-descent Mōri clan (毛利氏);
- Murakami clan (村上氏) - descended from Seiwa Genji.
- Murakami clan of Inland Sea (村上水軍) - also known as Murakami Suigun; famous for their naval forces.
- Murakami clan of Innoshima (因島村上氏)
- Murakami clan of Kurushima (来島村上氏)
- Murakami clan of Nōnoshima (能島村上氏)
- Murakami clan of Shinano (信濃村上氏) - also known as Shinshū Murakami clan; famous for Murakami Yoshikiyo.
- Nagao clan (長尾氏) - descended from Kammu Heishi; famous for Uesugi Kenshin.
- Nabeshima clan (鍋島氏) - cadet branch of Shōni clan who descended from Fujiwara Hokke.
- Niiro clan (新納氏) - cadet branch of Shimazu clan of the Satsuma Domain who descended from Seiwa Genji.
- Nakamura clan (ja:中村)
- Nambu clan (南部氏) - cadet branch of Takeda clan who descended from Seiwa Genji.
- Nijō family (二条家) - descended from Fujiwara Hokke.
- Nitta clan (新田氏) - descended from Seiwa Genji; famous for Nitta Yoshisada.
- Niwa clan (丹羽氏) - cadet branch of Kodama clan who descended from Fujiwara Hokke (disputed); no direct relation to the Isshiki-descent Niwa clan (丹羽氏).
- Niwa clan (丹羽氏) - caded branch of Isshiki clan who descended from Seiwa Genji; no direct relation to the Kodama-descent Niwa clan (丹羽氏).
- Oda clan (織田氏) - descended from Kammu Heishi; famous for Oda Nobunaga.
- Ōta clan - descended from Seiwa Genji; famous for Ōta Dōkan.
- Ogasawara clan (小笠原氏) - cadet branch of Takeda clan descended from Seiwa Genji.
- Ōtomo clan (大友氏) - descended from Fujiwara Hokke; no direct relation to the ancient Ōtomo clan (大友氏) or Ōtomo clan (大伴氏); famous for Ōtomo Sōrin.
- Ōuchi clan (大内氏) - descended from Tatara clan.
- Rokkaku clan (六角氏) - cadet branch of Sasaki clan who descended from Uda Genji.
- Sagara clan (相良氏) - descended from Fujiwara Nanke.
- Saitō clan (斉藤氏) - descended from Fujiwara Hokke; famous for Saitō Dōsan.
- Sakai clan (酒井氏) - cadet branch of Nitta clan, by the Tokugawa clan descended from Seiwa Genji.
- Sakuma clan (佐久間氏) - cadet branch of Miura clan who descended from Kammu Heishi
- Sanada clan (真田氏) - descended from Seiwa Genji (disputed); famous for Sanada Nobushige who is more commonly known as Sanada Yukimura.
- Sasaki clan (佐々木氏) - descended from Uda Genji.
- Satake clan (佐竹氏) - descended from Seiwa Genji.
- Shiba clan (斯波氏) - cadet branch of Ashikaga clan who descended from Seiwa Genji.
- Shimazu clan (島津氏) - also known as Satsuma Clan; descended from Seiwa Genji; famous for Shimazu Yoshihiro.
- Shinmen clan (新免氏) - also known as Shimmen clan; cadet branch of Akamatsu clan who descended from Murakami Genji.
- Sō clan (宗氏) - descended from Koremune clan.
- Sogō clan (十河氏) - descended from Emperor Keikō.
- Sōma clan (相馬氏) - cadet branch of Chiba clan who descended from Kammu Heishi.
- Sōma clan of Ōshū (奥州相馬氏) - head family.
- Sōma clan of Shimōsa (下総相馬氏) - cadet branch.
- Sue clan (陶氏) - cadet branch of Ōuchi clan who descended from Tatara clan. famous for Sue Harukata.
- Sugi clan (杉氏) - cadet branch of Sasaki clan who descended from Uda Genji; famous for Yoshida Shōin.
- Suwa clan (諏訪氏) - descended from Seiwa Genji.
- Tachibana clan (立花氏) - cadet branch of Ōtomo clan, descended from Ōtomo Yoshinao; no direct relation to the ancient Tachibana clan (橘氏); famous for Tachibana Ginchiyo and her husband Tachibana Muneshige.
- Takamu Clan - Clan founded by Mushinto Takamu, Resided in the Edo area.
- Takanashi clan (高梨氏) - cadet branch of Inoue clan who descended from Seiwa Genji (disputed).
- Takaoka clan (高岡氏) - descended from Uda Genji or Seiwa Genji.
- Takatsukasa family (鷹司家) - descended from Fujiwara Hokke.
- Takeda clan (武田氏) - also known as Takeda clan of Kai; descended from Seiwa Genji; famous for Takeda Shingen.
- Takenaka clan (竹中氏) - cadet branch of Toki clan who descended from Seiwa Genji.
- Takigawa clan (滝川氏) - descended from Ki clan or Tomo clan (disputed).
- Tanegashima clan (種子島氏) - descended from Kammu Heishi (disputed); famous for production of early firearms.
- Toda clan (戸田氏) - descended from Fujiwara Hokke.
- Toki clan (土岐氏) - descended from Seiwa Genji.
- Tokugawa clan (徳川氏) - descended from Tokugawa Ieyasu from Matsudaira clan; famous for Tokugawa Shogunate.
- Tsugaru clan (津軽氏) - also known as Ōura clan; descended from Fujiwara Hokke.
- Tsutsui clan (筒井氏) - descended from Fujiwara clan; famous for Tsutsui Junkei.
- Uesugi clan (上杉氏) - descended from Fujiwara Hokke.
- Uesugi family of Inukake (犬懸上杉家) - descended from Uesugi Norifuji.
- Uesugi family of Ōgigayatsu (扇谷上杉家) - descended from Uesugi Shigeaki.
- Uesugi family of Takuma (宅間上杉家) - descended from Uesugi Shigeyoshi.
- Uesugi family of Yamanouchi (山内上杉家) - descended from Uesugi Noriaki; famous for Uesugi Kenshin.
- Uesugi family of Fukaya (深谷上杉家) - also known as Kobanawa Uesugi family; descended from Uesugi Norifusa.
- Ukita clan (宇喜多氏) - descended from Kojima Takanori of Seiwa Genji; famous for Ukita Hideie.
- Urakami clan (浦上氏) - descended from Emperor Kōgen by the Ki clan.
- Utsunomiya clan (宇都宮氏) - descended from Fujiwara Hokke.
- Utsunomiya clan of Shimotsuke (下野宇都宮氏) - head family.
- Utsunomiya clan of Buzen (豊前宇都宮氏) - cadet branch.
- Utsunomiya clan of Chikugo (筑後宇都宮氏) - cadet branch.
- Utsunomiya clan of Iyo (伊予宇都宮氏) - cadet branch.
- Wakiya clan (脇屋氏) - cadet branch of Nitta clan who descended from Seiwa Genji.
- Watanabe clan - descended from Emperor Saga.
- Yagyū clan (柳生氏) - descended from Sugawara clan; famous for their swordsmanship called Yagyū Shinkage-ryū.
- Yamana clan (山名氏) - cadet branch of Nitta clan who descended from Seiwa Genji.
- Yamanouchi clan (山内氏) - also known as Yamanouchi Sudō clan , descended from Fujiwara Hokke.
- Yamanouchi clan of Bingo (備後山内氏) - head family.
- Yamanouchi clan of Ōshū (奥州山内氏) - cadet branch.
- Yamanouchi clan of Tosa (土佐山内氏) - cadet branch; famous for Yamauchi Kazutoyo.
- Yanagizawa clan - cadet branch of Takeda clan who descended from Seiwa Genji.
- Yūki clan (結城氏) - descended from Fujiwara Hokke.
- Yūki clan of Shimousa (下総結城氏) - head family.
- Yūki clan of Shirakawa (白河結城氏) - cadet branch.
Other clans and families
Okinawa:
Sacerdotal clans:
See also
Notes
References
- Newell, William Hare. (1976). Ancestors. The Hague: Walter de Gruyter. 10-ISBN 9-0279-7859-X; 13-ISBN 978-9-0279-7859-2; OCLC 2576802