Japanese clans

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This is a list of Japanese clans. The ancient clans (gozoku) mentioned in the Nihonshoki and Kojiki lost their political power before the Heian period. Instead of gozoku, new aristocracies, Kuge families emerged in this period. In the late Heian period, warrior class clans (Samurai) gradually gained power and subsequently dominated the country.

Ancient clan names[edit]

There are ancient-era clan names called Uji-na (氏名?) or Honsei (本姓?).

Imperial Clan[edit]

Four noble clans[edit]

Gempeitōkitsu (源平藤橘?), 4 noble clans of Japan:

Mon of Taira clan

Other native clans[edit]

Immigrant clans[edit]

Newly created noble clan[edit]

Family names[edit]

From late ancient era, the family name (Myōji/苗字 or 名字) had been commonly used by samurai to denote their family line in stead of the name of the ancient clan that the family line belongs to (uji-na/氏名 or honsei/本姓), which was used only in the official records in the Imperial court. Kuge families also had used their family name (Kamei/家名) for the same purpose. Each of samurai families is called "[family name] clan (氏)" as follows and they must not be confused with ancient clan names:

Other clans and families[edit]


Sacerdotal clans:

See also[edit]