What is "chkhetidze"

Chkhetidze was a Georgian noble family known in west Georgia from the tenth century. The oldest known representative is Germain Chkhetidze, Archbishop-Metropolitan of Bedia in 999, who, according to legend, was of Byzantine origin.

It formed the following lines:

• The Princes Chkheidze in Imereti, confirmed in the princely title under the Russian Empire in 1850 and 1861.
• The Eristavi of Racha , later entitled as Princes Eristov of Racha under the Russian rule in 1850. They ruled the Duchy of Racha from c. 1488 to 1768.
• Chkhotua (Chkotua; ჩხოტუა, ჩქოტუა) in Mingrelia and Abkhazia, elevated to the princely rank of the Russian Empire in 1901. The Grand Duke Cyril authorised the transfer of the name and title via the female line to a branch of the Chqonia/Chkonia, a feudal family from Guria (later belonging to the hereditary Russian nobility) in emigration on 26 July 1938.