According to scientific research originating of family names in Georgia is atributed to 6th century. More reliably we can say that most modern Georgian surnames originated in 12th 15th centuries.
The most widespread surnames in Georgia today are: Beridze, Kapanadze, Gelashvili, Maisuradze, Giorgadze. Among these names Chikovani is on the 107th place. In Samegrelo (region of Georgia) this surname is on the 46th place. The oldest place of their sattlement is village Mukhuri.
There are three versions of the surname: Chikvani, Chikoani and Chikovani. Toponims: Lechikvane, Nachikvane. The oldest sattlement of this name is Chakvindzha.

In the 17th century in historical sources Chikovani from mountain region Lechkhumi belonged to gentry (aznauri). In the second part of the 17th century the family of aznauri Katsia Chikovani from Gorda (a village in the south of Lechkhumi) acheaved the post of the councellor (title- Lipartiani) at the court of prince Dadiani, the ruler of Samegrelo. (Lipartiani in Megrelian means “the Leader”).

Later from the end of 17th century Katsia Chikovani conquered the throne of the ruler and he himself became Dadiani. Since then for almost two centuries (until the abolition of georgia statehood) Kazia and his family were one of the most powerful feudal lords in Georgia.

It should be mentioned that Dadiani are the second (after Bagrationi) most powerful dynasty in Georgia. Surname Chikovani can be traced from the 13th century. Later they became very influential noblemen and obtained high posts. The ancestors of the family Chikovani were princes of Samegrelo. The closest friend of Zurab Chikovani Konstantine Chikovani owned lands in Gorda and Martvili. His wife was Elisabed Emkhvari, a representative of a very powerful Abkhaz family close to the ruler of Abkhazia Shervashidze. Such marriages used to be very frequent as Samegrelo like Abkhazia was an inseparable part of Georgia.

In the photo we can see ancestors of the family Chikovani: Emkhvari, Akhirtava, Anchabadze, Margania and others. These are Abkhaz and georgian noblemen who built and supported Georgian state.

According to the research of Akademician Jacob Akhuashvili.