'apiarian' originates from English, specifically the word 'apiary', which in turn comes from Latin 'apiarium', where 'apis' meant 'bee'.

'apiarian' changed from Latin 'apiarium' to Old French/Medieval Latin forms (e.g. 'apiarie') and into Middle English 'apiary', after which the adjectival/noun form 'apiarian' developed in modern English.

Initially it was associated with a 'place for bees' (an apiary), but over time it evolved to mean 'relating to bees or beekeeping' and came to be used as a noun meaning 'a beekeeper'.