'saloonkeeper' is a compound of 'saloon' + 'keeper'. 'saloon' originates from French, specifically the word 'salon', where 'salon' meant 'large room' or 'reception room', and 'keeper' comes from Old English 'cēpan'/'cēpan' (via Middle English 'kepe'/'kepe' + agent suffix '-er') meaning 'to keep, guard'.

'saloon' entered English from French 'salon' in the 17th century meaning 'large reception room'; in the 19th century (especially in North America) 'saloon' shifted to mean a 'bar' or 'public drinking place'. 'keeper' developed from Old English roots ('cēpan' → Middle English 'kepe/keep') plus the agentive suffix '-er', producing 'keeper'. The compound 'saloonkeeper' therefore came to denote the person who runs a saloon.

Initially 'saloon' meant 'large reception room' or 'parlor'; over time it narrowed in some dialects (notably American English) to mean specifically a drinking establishment. Consequently, 'saloonkeeper' evolved to mean 'the owner/manager of such a drinking place'.