His father was KIYOHARA no Harumitsu, the governor of Shimotsuke Province (some people believe his father's name was Akitada, but this is thought to be a mistake caused by the confusion with the father of FUJIWARA no Motosuke), and his grandfather is KIYOHARA no Fukayabu, a senior officer of the Office of the Imperial Household (some people believe he was Motosuke's father).
父は下野国守・清原春光（父の名を「顕忠」とする説は、藤原元輔の父と混同した誤りと考えられている）、祖父は内蔵允・清原深養父（元輔の父を深養父とする説もある）。