It is said that the descendents of the Horiguchi family settled in Motosu Country, Mino Province (the upper reaches of Ibi-gawa River), and they served the Saito clan and the Akechi clan during the Sengoku period (period of warring states).
美濃国本巣郡（岐阜県の揖斐川上流）には、堀口一族の子孫が土着し、戦国時代には齋藤氏や明智氏に仕えたという。