The Georgian Chronicles
Although the surname is given in a standard Georgian form (particularly, the typical –"dze" suffix meaning "a son"), in the 12th century the family is said to have derived its original name from Shirvanshahs, a dynasty of Shirvan. According to the medieval "The Georgian Chronicles", the Shirvanese princes were granted the possessions in the province of Abkhazia after David IV, one of Georgia's greatest kings, extended his kingdom to Shirvan in 1124 .