Texians

Texians is a historical term used to refer to the residents of the Texas region, particularly during the early 19th century when Texas was part of Mexico and later as the independent Republic of Texas. The word is formed with the suffix -ian, akin to other regional ethnonyms, and in historical usage it often signified inhabitants of Texas rather than a modern, geographically defined nationality. In scholarly writing, Texian distinguishes pre-statehood Texas people from the later, more universally used term Texan.

The population described as Texians was diverse. Many were Anglo-American settlers who came under empresario contracts during Mexican rule, but Tejanos—Texans of Mexican descent—also identified as Texians in contemporary discourse. The term is frequently associated with the period surrounding the Texas Revolution (1835–1836), when Texians fought for independence from Mexico and established the Republic of Texas.

During the Republic of Texas (1836–1845), Texians constituted the citizenry and played a leading role in politics, settlement, and defense. The republic pursued land expansion and eventual annexation by the United States. In 1845 Texas joined the United States as a state, and the modern demonym Texan became more common in everyday usage, gradually replacing the historical label Texian for ordinary residents.

Today, Texian is primarily encountered in historical contexts, archival records, and scholarly works describing Texas before annexation. It is distinct from the contemporary term Texan, which refers to residents of Texas in the present day.