, an alteration of Teresa, first used in Spain, supposedly derived from the Ancient Greek name of the island of Thera in Greece.
1810, Tales of real life: forming a sequel to miss Edgeworth's Tales of fashionable life (Henry Colburn, London), volume 1, page 72:"Theresa!" exclaimed the stranger, "is your name Theresa?" asked she, a death-like paleness at the same time overspreading her countenance."Is this name so frightful to you?" enquired the recluse."Frightful!" rejoined the stranger, "O, no, I venerate it, like the name of a saint. I had once an unknown friend, whose name was Theresa.
1976, Anne Tyler: Searching for Caleb (Berkley Books, New York, 1983, ISBN 0-425-09876-1), page 7:"Theresa,", he said. "I never cared for that name."Justine nodded, chewing."I don't like difficult names. I don't like foreignness.""Perhaps they're Catholic," Justine said.
