The term Mexicas or rather Mexica is that by which the Aztèques
indicated themselves (preferably at the end “azteca” designating
these people before the appearance of their empire) in XVIe
century, and by which the other people mésoaméricains as well as
the Spaniards indicated besides. The term “Aztec” was
popularized as from the XVIIe century by scholars like Francisco
Javier Clavijero, and especially by the publication in 1844 of
the famous book of William H. Prescott “The History off the
Conquest off Mexico City”. The term “Azteca” existed indeed in
XVIe century, but only to indicate Mexica during their migration
starting from a mythical place called Aztlan. Say from the start
that in word “Mexicas” “S” is redundant, since in Nahuatl
“Mexica” is already the plural form of the word “Mexicatl”,
which designates the inhabitant of Mexico City Tenochtitlan,
capital of the Aztec nation. Besides one employs also the
expression “Mexica Tenochca”. The etymology of the word “Mexica”
is far from being clear. The Fren