However, his social status was certainly Gokenin (Shogunal retainer) of the Kamakura Bakufu (Japanese feudal government headed by a shogun) and he traditionally maintained the family name of Ashikaga, distinguishing clearly between his family and the branch families of the Ashikaga clan which gradually became retainers of the Ashikaga family (the branch families adopted new family names such as the Hosokawa clan and the Isshiki clan, which made them famous).
しかし、身分が鎌倉幕府の直臣たる御家人であることに変わりはなく、足利氏の庶流が足利家の家人になっていったのに対し、従来通りに足利の名字を称して一線を画した（庶流は細川氏、一色氏などと新たな家名を立てた）のである。