The persons who were engaged in compiling the kazoku system had their own idea for the title of the class: Hirobumi ITO suggested "Kugyo" (compound of 'Ko' and 'Kei' which originally meaning the top court officials); Saneomi HIROSAWA, Toshimichi OKUBO, and Taneomi SOEJIMA suggested "kizoku" (originally meaning nobles); and Tomomi IWAKURA suggested "kunke" (families that contributed to the nation greatly), "meizoku" (noble families), "kozoku" (families of 'Ko') and "gyoke" (families of 'Kei').
華族制度の策定にあたった伊藤博文は『公卿』、広沢真臣・大久保利通・副島種臣は『貴族』、岩倉具視は『勲家』・『名族』・『公族』・『卿家』等の案を持っていた。