SAKANOUE no Tamuramaro's father was SAKANOUE no Karitamaro of the Sakanoue Clan, which was celebrated for its military skills, as exemplified by Tamuramaro's grandfather, SAKANOUE no Inukai, and his father Karitamaro himself.
父は坂上苅田麻呂で、坂上氏は田村麻呂の祖父の坂上犬養、と苅田麻呂ともに武をもって知られた。