'scorekeeper' originates from English, specifically a compound of 'score' + 'keeper', where 'score' referred to a tally (originally a notch) and 'keeper' meant 'one who keeps or guards'.

'score' comes from Old Norse/Old English roots meaning a cut or notch used to record a tally; 'keeper' comes from Old English 'cēpan'/'céapere' meaning to care for or keep. The compound 'scorekeeper' developed in modern English as organized games and formal scoring became common.

Initially, 'score' meant a physical notch or tally mark; over time it evolved to mean the number of points in a game, and 'scorekeeper' came to mean the person who records those points.