"I think that the word they themselves used at the time was "Texicans"."

Texican is an American settler in Texas, Tejano is a Native Texan. Texicans spoke English and were faithful protestants, Tejanos spoke Spanish and you guessed it Catholic, more or less. The Tejanos were and are not Mexicans, They'v been in Texas longer than there have been English speaking people in the New World. Although there has certainly been immigration from Mexico to Texas, some of the folks they call Mexicans in Texas are in reality Texans, though that's hard to accept for an English speaking protestant.

Uncle Phil, I'v enjoyed your posts very much. They appear to be well researched. I'd like to add one more facet to your description of the Alamo. I'd always been lead to understand that there were as many Tejanos as Texicans defending the Alamo, and as a result of the way history is written, we've been taught the battle was fought by English speaking white folk. As for the other side, The non english speaking brown folk who attacked the Alamo. Santa Annas army was in fact not the professional European style army that history teaches us. He had suffered great casualties leading up to the siege, and thusly had rely heavily on impressing local Tejanos. So when it can time to attack repeatedly he was not throwing well trained Mexicans at the strong hold, they were disposable tejanos who had no choice. Now they're not even considered Texan.