The first who used Aoki name was Aoki Shigenao (1529–1614).
[1] Aoki Shigenao was a vassal to one of Oda Nobunaga's principal advisors, Niwa Nagahide.
[1] During the Sengoku period, the Aoki clan served Toyotomi clan later after the death of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, they served Tokugawa Shogunate and ruled Asada Domain, 12.000 koku.