Like the main branch of the Sakanoue clan, and the Hirano clan which was the head of the branch families, Hirano Shichimyo family referred to themselves as the 'clan in charge of popular affairs' for generations and supported medieval self-governing city Hirano, comparable to Sakai city.
宗家の坂上氏、庶家惣領の平野氏を筆頭に、平野七名家が坂上宗家を支えると共に代々「民部」を称し、堺市などと並ぶ中世の自治都市の平野を担った。