According to the Armenian historian Hovhannes Gharagyozian, the town's historical name of Pirchivan, which it held until 1957 when it was renamed to Zangilan, originates from the settlement of Ashtarak mentioned by Stepanos Orbelian in his list of villages in the Kovsakan county of Syunik.

Thus creating “Burgi avan>Burjevan>Brjevan,” which was transformed into Pirchivan under Turkic phonetic influence.

[2] Soviet-Armenian historian Suren Yeremian states that the area of present-day Zangilan was part of the Kovsakan gavar (county) of the Syunik province within the Kingdom of Armenia.

[4] In the 14th century, Verjnavan was mentioned as being a part of the Kovsakan gavar of the province of Syunik, during the period of Mongol Armenia.

[6] According to the 1912 Caucasian Calendar, the village of Zangilan was home to 762 people, the majority of whom were Azerbaijanis (classified as "Tatars" in the census).