Since the birthplace of the Utsunomiya clan was Shimotsuke Province, it is often called the Shimotsuke-Utsunomiya clan to distinguish it from its branch families in other provinces.
宇都宮氏は下野国が本貫であったため、各地の庶家に対してしばしば下野宇都宮氏といわれることもある。