The family is presumed to have branched off from the
Marushisdze family, another eminent Georgian feudal clan, a hypothesis supported by the abundance of the name Marushiani in the Vardanisdze family. The first attested member and arguably a founder of the family is Vardan,
eristavi of the
Svans, in the latter half of the 11th century. The dignity of eristavi (or eristavt-eristavi) of the Svans was hereditary in his descendants later known as Vardanisdze (
Vardan + -
dze, "a son"). They also held various important posts at the Georgian royal court, including
mechurchlet-ukhutsesi (
Lord High Treasurer),
msakhurt-ukhutsesi (
Lord Great Chamberlain) and
mandaturt-ukhutsesi (Lord High Mandator) of
Likht-Imereti (i.e., west Georgia). == Branches of the family ==