'housekeeper' originates from English, specifically the compound 'house' + 'keeper', where 'house' meant 'a dwelling' and 'keeper' meant 'one who keeps or looks after'.

'house' comes from Old English 'hūs' meaning 'dwelling' and 'keeper' comes from the verb 'keep' (Old English 'cēpan'/'cépan' meaning 'to hold or care for') with the agent suffix '-er'; the compound form 'house-keeper' appeared in Middle English and developed into modern English 'housekeeper'.

Initially it meant 'one who looks after or is in charge of a house' and over time has retained that sense, extending into specialized roles (for example, hotel housekeepers).