Iemochi was the first son of Nariyuki TOKUGAWA (a family head of the Shimizu Tokugawa Family and the Kishu Tokugawa Family), but his father died before he was born.
徳川斉順（清水徳川家および紀州徳川家の当主）の長男であるが、父は家茂が生まれる前に薨去した。