'rockcress' originates from the combination of 'rock' and 'cress', where 'rock' refers to its typical habitat and 'cress' is a common name for plants in the mustard family.

'Rockcress' has remained relatively unchanged in its form and meaning since its first recorded use.

Initially, it referred to any cress-like plant growing among rocks, and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.