In 1378, when Yoshimitsu ASHIKAGA, the third shogun of the Muromachi bakufu (Japanese feudal government headed by a shogun), moved his residence to Muromachi-tei, Kanehiro changed his family name from Muromachi to Yoshida in order to avoid using the same name as the residence of the shogun.
1378年（永和4年・天授4年）室町幕府3代将軍足利義満が室町第に移ったことから、それまで名乗っていた室町をはばかって、社務を務める吉田を家名とした。