After the return of lands and people to the emperor in 1869, the status of those belonging to the clan was classified into the peerage (Chihanji such as a former daimyo (Japanese territorial lord) and the Tokugawa Shogun family), the warrior class (hatamoto (a direct vassal of the shogun), a feudal retainer of domain, and upper-ranking goshi (country samurai)), low-ranking samurai called sotsuzoku (keihai (a person of low rank) such as ashigaru (common foot soldier) and doshin (a police constable)).
1869年（明治2年）の版籍奉還の後、藩に属する者の身分階級は華族（元大名・徳川将軍家などの知藩事）、士族（旗本、藩士、上級郷士）、卒族（足軽・同心などの軽輩）に編成された。