It is assumed that although their achievements were worth the title, it was not accepted to give the same title as dominant nobilities to someone from a lower ranking family, and therefore the rank 'ge' was created.
地方出身で出自が低い者を中央の貴族と同列にするわけにはいかないが、彼等の功績は高く顕彰したいという考慮から、「外」という位が作られたと推測されている。