Since the parent of the TOKUGAWA family was the ANJO-MATSUDAIRA family, vassals having served the ANJO-MATSUDAIRA family were historically regarded as the longest-serving, who were followed by vassals having served the other cadet branches of the house of MATSUDAIRA.
徳川家の母体となったのが、安祥松平家であるため、歴史的には安祥松平家に仕えていた家臣を最古参とし、他の松平の分家に仕えていた家臣を次としている。