His paternal family descended from Dobrsko Selo near Cetinje, and were originally surnamed Radišić, however, after a krvna osveta (blood feud), the family changed its name into Kavaja. One of the Radišić brothers had killed a Turk bey, and was forced to flee in order to save his life. The feud brought him as far as Kavajë, in Albania, and when the situation had calmed down he returned to Dobrsko Selo, where the villagers began calling him Kavaja, from where a new brotherhood (bratstvo) emerged, the "Kavaje".
His paternal lineage originated from Dobrsko Selo near Cetinje, and was initially known as Radišić, but after a blood feud, the family changed its surname to Kavaja. One of the Radišić brothers was compelled to flee after killing a Turk bey, which led him to seek refuge in Kavajë, Albania, where he eventually returned to Dobrsko Selo, earning the nickname Kavaja, from which a new brotherhood emerged.