Basically, many of the vassals of Gosanke had the hereditary vassals from Mikawa Province as their ancestors just like the shogun family; some vassals of high rank were called 'tsukegaro' (vassals assigned directly by the shogun) who were treated like a great vassal of shogun, held a special position of superintendent officer, and were equivalent to daimyo with tens of thousands of crop yield, while vassals of daimyo were usually called 'baishin' (indirect vassal).
御三家の家臣は、基本的に将軍家と同様、三河以来の譜代家臣を祖とする者が多かったが、その中でも将軍直臣（じきしん）の扱い（大名の家臣は通常「陪臣（ばいしん）」と呼ばれる）を受け、特別に目付役の任を持ち、数万石レベルの大名に匹敵する「附家老（つけがろう）」と呼ばれる大身の家臣がいた。