The term came to refer not only to temples established for the worship and memorial services of clans but also to temples established by the families that comprised clans (there was no term for 'family temple') and took on the role of conducting the Buddhist rites of clans and families.
「氏」という一グループの信仰や供養を受ける氏寺のみならず、「氏」を構成する「家」それぞれにも氏寺（家寺と呼ぶべきか）が持たれるようになり、それぞれ氏や家に応じた仏事を執り行うようになった。