The Mito family's kyokkan (the highest rank one could be appointed in his lineage) in the Imperial Court rank system is lower than those of the Owari family and Kishu family (those of these two families were Dainagon [the Chief Councilor of State], while that of the Mito family was Gon Chunagon [the provisional Vice-Councilor of State]), and the kokudaka of the Mito family was lower than those of these two families; therefore, it is generally considered that its social status was lower by one rank than those of the other two families.
尾張家・紀州家から見ると、極官の官位が低く（他のニ家は大納言だが、水戸家は権中納言）、石高が低いことなどから一段格下の家柄というのが世間一般の認識ではある。