'record-keeper' originates from Modern English as a compound of 'record' and 'keeper'. 'record' (noun) comes from Old French/Anglo-Norman 'record' and Medieval Latin 'recordum', ultimately from Latin 'recordari' meaning 'to recall', while 'keeper' is from Old English root 'cēpan/cepan' (to hold, keep) with the agentive suffix '-er'.

'record' developed from Latin 'recordari' → Medieval Latin 'recordum' → Old French/Anglo-Norman 'record' → Middle English 'record(e)' meaning 'a thing recalled' and later 'a written account'. 'keeper' developed from Old English 'cēpan' → Middle English 'keepen/keep' with the agentive '-er', and the compound 'record-keeper' arose in Modern English as a descriptive compound for someone who keeps records.

Initially 'record' referred to 'something recalled' or 'a memorized thing'; over time it shifted to mean 'a written account or official note', and combined with 'keeper' the compound came to mean 'one who maintains such written accounts'.