Indian nun and missionary in the Roman Catholic Church (born of Albanian parents in what is now Macedonia); dedicated to helping the poor in India (1910-1997)
"Theresa traveled across India to care for lepers, embodying her life's work as a nun who dedicated herself to serving the poorest among them."
A female given name from Ancient Greek, an alteration of Teresa, first used in Spain, supposedly derived from the Ancient Greek name of the island of Thera in Greece.
"Theresa is a popular female name rooted in Spanish tradition and ultimately traced back to the ancient Greek island of Thera."
The name Theresa originated in Spain and is believed to come from the Latin word Thera, which was borrowed from the Ancient Greek name for the island city on Santorini. It traveled into English as a personal name rather than retaining its original geographical meaning.