The family was established at the end of the Heian period by FUJIWARA no Norinari, the Deputy Chief of the Councilor of State, who was adopted (under yushi, an old Japanese system of adoption) by FUJIWARA no Sanenori, the sixth son of Ienari SHIJO.
四条家成の六男藤原実教の猶子となった中納言藤原教成を祖として平安時代末期に創設された。