Since the Mito family founded by Yorifusa only received the honor of taking the name of Tokugawa after the Suruga family became extinct in 1636, they were lower in rank and grade than the other two families; however, they reported to the Emperor on the next shogun family, and they worked full time in Edo, so that they came to be called Gosanke when Tsunayoshi became the fifth shogun.
水戸家は頼房が駿河家断絶後の1636年（寛永13年）に徳川賜姓された家であり、他の2家よりも官位・官職の点では下ではあるが、朝廷に対して次期将軍家の奏聞をし、また、江戸常勤であることなどから五代綱吉のころから御三家と呼ばれる。