Under the reign of the Muromachi bakufu (Japanese feudal government headed by a shogun) and Edo bakufu, it also meant a title or a honorific title allowed to a head of any distinguished family or of samurai family who was credited with his achievements.
室町幕府及び江戸幕府においては名門或いは功績ある武家の当主に許された称号または敬称。