The designation of shizoku is associated with each family but not with an individual person, and, therefore, it is no wonder that not only any one who left a family of shizoku and entered other family but also any one who established a separate branch family had to lose the designation of shizoku of his former family and became heimin (Edict No.73 of 1874.)
士族の称は家に従属するもので、人の一身に専属するものではないから、士族が家を去って他家に入ったときはもちろんのこと、分家したときも当然その称をうしない、平民となった（明治7年布告第73号）。