.family Domain Registrationfrom £57.80/yr
Why Choose a .family Domain?
The .family TLD launched in 2015 as part of ICANN's new gTLD programme and is one of a cluster of "life event" extensions aimed at people building sites around their household, lineage or close-knit groups. It carries an immediately readable meaning, which is useful for a private surname site, a reunion page or a small family-run venture where the audience is friends and relatives rather than search traffic.
Ideal for:
- Surname sites for sharing photos, news and milestones with relatives
- Family reunion and wedding planning hubs
- Genealogy and family tree projects
- Family-run small businesses, farms and bed and breakfasts
- Private blogs documenting parenting, adoption or fostering journeys
Things to know:
- Unrestricted — anyone, anywhere can register a .family domain. No proof of relation or household required.
- Some short, common surnames and dictionary terms are reserved as premium names by the registry and carry higher annual fees.
- Because surname sites often handle photos and personal details, enabling DNSSEC and using strong DNS hosting is sensible from day one.
Creative .family Domain Ideas
- TheHarrison.family — central hub for a surname's news, photos and contact list
- Reunion.family — event site for organising an annual gathering
- Tree.family — genealogy project documenting ancestors and descendants
- Recipes.family — collected recipes passed down through generations
- Foster.family — blog for parents sharing fostering experiences
- Vineyard.family — small family-run winery with online ordering
Frequently asked questions about .family
Anyone can. There are no eligibility rules, residency requirements or proof of relation needed. Individuals, couples, extended families and family-run businesses anywhere in the world can register a .family domain on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to the registry's standard acceptable-use policies.
You can register a .family domain for between one and ten years in single-year increments, and renew it for further terms before it expires. Many people pick a longer term for a surname or genealogy site so it stays active for years without the risk of forgetting a renewal.
Yes. As long as the domain is more than 60 days old, unlocked at your current registrar and you have the authorisation (EPP) code, you can transfer it across. The transfer extends your registration by an additional year on top of the time remaining, so you don't lose any paid-up term.
Yes, free WHOIS privacy is available on .family. Given that these domains often relate to households and children, we strongly recommend keeping it enabled so that your name, home address and phone number aren't published in the public registration record.
After expiry the domain enters a renewal grace period of around 30 days during which you can renew at the standard price. After that it moves into a redemption period of roughly 30 days where recovery is possible but carries a hefty registry fee, then it's released for anyone to register.