In A Song of Ice and Fire, the family that rules the North is House Stark.
The Starks are one of the oldest noble houses in Westeros and rule from Winterfell, their ancestral castle. Their traditional words, “Winter Is Coming,” reflect both the harsh northern climate and the family’s belief that people must prepare for difficult times.
At the beginning of the series, Eddard Stark serves as Warden of the North. His children—including Robb, Sansa, Arya, Bran, and Rickon—become central figures in the political upheaval that follows. The Starks are associated with direwolves, and each of Eddard’s legitimate children receives one.
A common mix-up is House Baratheon, which rules the Seven Kingdoms for part of the story, or House Targaryen, the former royal dynasty. The Lannisters are another powerful southern family, but none of these houses rules the North in the established political order.