[1] It is commonly believed that the name of Aparan is derived from the Armenian word Aparank, meaning a royal palace.

The new name was originated from the village of Aparank located in the Moxoene province of the Kingdom of Armenia, when some remains from the ancient Armenian monastery of Surp Khach of Aparan were transferred to the town of Kasagh.

From the mid 10th to the late 12th centuries, Aparan came under the control of various Muslim dynasties, namely the Kurdish Shaddadids and the Turkic Delimks (originating from modern-day Iran).

The Zakarian rulers granted governance of the area to the Vachutian noble family who invested in multiple architectural works along the Kasagh valley.

[8] By the last quarter of the 14th century, the Aq Qoyunlu Sunni Oghuz Turkic tribe took over Armenia, including Aparan, before being invaded by Timur in 1400.

Around 1620, Pope Gregory XV instigated the founding of a Fratres Unitores (exclusive Armenian Dominican order branch) seminary in Aparan.

The see was elevated on 21 February 1633 as non-Metropolitan Archdiocese of Nakhchivan, but diocesan activity seemingly effectively halted later that century.

It would be suppressed in 1847, apparently vacant since 1765, as its faithful had fled the country during the devastating wars between the Ottomans and Safavids.

During that time, it had no settled population of Armenians or Muslims due to it being located on the northern frontier in a frequent war zone.

[15] In 1828, after the Russo-Persian War, Aparan was among the lands that were handed over to the Russian Empire as a result of the Treaty of Turkmenchay signed on 21 February 1828.

An impressive monument to the Battle of Abaran was erected in 1978 just north of the town, designed by architect Rafael Israelyan.

[3] Following the independence of Armenia from the Soviet Union, Aparan was given the status of a town within the Aragatsotn Province, as per the administrative reforms of 1995.

Historically, Aparan is located in Nig canton of Ayrarat Province of the Kingdom of Armenia Mayor.

A network of regional roads connects the town with the surrounding villages, as well as the provinces of Shirak and Armavir.

Many restaurants of Aparan offer local and traditional cuisine, and tourist are accommodated in the Kasaghi Amrots hotel.