As well as being classified according to Shoryo Ando (feudal tenure) or Hontaku Ando (residence tenure) as described above, the gokenin (samurai retainers) ranged from influential individuals with large territories holding shugo (governor) status in more than one province through to the other end of the spectrum: insignificant gokenin with only small territories.
御家人は、上記のとおり直接所領安堵・本宅安堵の区分のほか、広大な所領を持ち数カ国の守護を兼ねる有力御家人から、ごく狭い所領しか持たない零細な御家人まで大小さまざまな規模であった。