They were called by their regional name such as Suwa shu (a group of vassals of the Suwa clan), Ueno shu (a group of vassals of the Ueno clan) and by the name of their feudal lord such as Sanada shu (a group of vassals of the Sanada clan).
当時は諏訪衆・上野衆と言った地域名、あるいは真田衆と言った領主名で呼ばれていた。