sentences:  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).