During the Muromachi period, the clan emerged as a powerful kokujin (local samurai) in the northwestern Mikawa, by extending its influence over Kamo Country (Mikawa Province) with its home base in Yanami, then in the Sengoku Period (Period of Warring States) (Japan), the clan was divided into several branch families such as the Terabe (Terabe-cho, Toyota City), the Sachinomi (Kokai-cho, Toyota City), the Asuke (Asuke-cho, Toyota City) and the Norisada (Oaza Norisada, Asuke-cho, Toyoda City).
室町時代に矢並を本拠として加茂郡(三河国)一帯に勢力を広げて三河西北部における有力国人として台頭し、戦国時代(日本)には、寺部（豊田市寺部町）、酒呑（豊田市幸海町）、足助（豊田市足助町）、則定（豊田市足助町大字則定）などの諸家に分かれていた。