During their early period, the family held much influence over the districts of Shukur, Ranikuh and Ashkawar in Tabaristan.
The first member of the family was a certain Nu'man, who had two sons named Kaki and Fairuzan, whom both served the Alid dynasties of northern Iran.
Both of these sons would later play an important role in the politics of northern Iran.
However, other Daylamites such as Asfar ibn Shiruya, including the Daylamite Buyids and Ziyarids, and the Persian Samanid dynasty, claimed suzerainty over Tabaristan, which in the end resulted in Makan getting killed in 940 by a Samanid army.
Nasr later fell out of favor from the Ziyarid ruler Qabus, and was imprisoned.