During the Edo period the term 'Gokenin' came refer to immediate retainers of the Tokugawa Shogun family who held lands of less than 10,000 koku (1 koku = 4.96 bushels): in particular, individuals lacking the rank to be granted a direct audience with the shogun.
江戸時代には、御家人は知行が1万石未満の徳川将軍家の直参家臣団（直臣）のうち、特に御目見得以下（将軍に直接謁見できない）の家格に位置付けられた者を指す用語となった。