When an immediate family member or blood-related relative inherits his family name as either a biological or alternatively an adopted son, this process is termed as inheriting the family estate,' whereas, when an unrelated person takes over the family name as son-in-law (by marrying into his wife's family) or as an adopted son, this is sometimes termed 'inheriting a predecessors' Myoseki.'
肉親及び親類が実子または養子として家名を継ぐことを「家督を継ぐ」というが、血縁でないものが娘婿（婿養子）あるいは養子となって家名を踏襲する場合は「名跡を継ぐ」ということもある。