As their family name is the same and they enlisted at the same time, it is thought that they were from the same place, and that they were one year apart in age (Ennosuke was 26 years old when he joined Shinsengumi); both names are considered to be of brothers or some type of close relation, in consideration of the fact that Yuzou, who became a master of literature, probably had work as a scholar, and Yoshisuke KONDO said that Ennosuke was a Buddhist monk so both they were educated.
苗字が同じで入隊が同期、出身が同地と思われ、年齢が1歳差（縁之助は入隊時26歳）であること、縁之助は元僧侶とする声（近藤芳助）があり師範となった雄蔵同様学識があったと思われることなどから、両名は兄弟ないしは何らかの縁者ではないかとする説もある。