From the history of the Ogbaidze surname (The origin, family branches, etymology, traditional clerical position)

This reasearch of the history of Mtiuletian/Georgian surname – the Ogbaidze of Lazi origin, is devided into three parts. In the first part are identified the root of this family name – Ogbani – the village of Mtiuleti (mountainous region of north-east Georgia), the family branches and information about them defended in historical-folk-lore sourses, in the second – the etymology of the family name, and in the third – the traditional clerical position of the Ogbaidzes.
The branches (divisions) of Ogbaidze are: Obgaidze, Obgadze and Gogbaidze, which were formed as independent surnames in the 19th century. The base for the surname Ogbaidze is derived from the Lazian word `Ogibu/Ogubu~ meaining `boiling/cooking~. As it turns out, the representatives of this family name, were traditionally the deacons of the shrine of the whole Tskhavati community – the Tsetskhlijvari (fire cross) built in the 8th-10th centuries, and whose honorable duty was to conduct ritual cooking; Having had this activity since ancient times, it became a bases for the surname `Ogiba-is-dze~, the same `Ogbaidze~ i.e. `ritual cookers~. The paper supposes, that this surname, besides the Lazi word `Ogibu~, also includes the name `Gibil~, which eneterd Lazian and megrelian languages from the Sumerian. In Sumerian mythology – Gibil is the god (divinity) of fire, variously of the son of An and Ki, An and Shala or of Ishkur and Shala. He later developed into the Akkadian god Gerra. In some versions of the Enûma Eliš Gibil is said to maintain the sharp point of weapons, have broad wisdom, and that his mind is `so vast that all the gods, all of them, cannot fathom it~. Some versions state Gibil, as lord of the fire and the forge, also possesses wisdom of metallurgy.
Both words contexually are inteconnected (fire+cooking). Similar tight connection is seen between the Ogbaidze and Tskhavati ancient shrine (~Tsetskhlijvari~, i. e. fire cross).