'gamekeeper' originates from English as a compound of 'game' + 'keeper'. 'game' (Old English 'gamen' / 'game') carried senses of 'sport, amusement' and of animals hunted for sport or food; 'keeper' comes from Old English 'cēpan' meaning 'to hold, keep'.

'game' developed from Old English 'gamen' into Middle English 'game' with senses including hunted animals; 'keeper' evolved from Old English 'cēpan' into Middle English 'keep'/'keeper'. The compound 'gamekeeper' emerged in modern English (recorded from around the 18th century) to denote a person who keeps or manages game on an estate.

Initially it specifically meant 'a keeper of game (wild animals kept for hunting)'; over time the primary meaning has remained largely the same, though it can also be used figuratively to mean a guardian or custodian.