Rangel (Portuguese pronunciation: [ʁɐ̃ˈʒɛl], Spanish pronunciation: [raŋˈxel]) is a surname of Portuguese origin.
Rangel is a toponymic surname. The origin of the term is uncertain but French And Germanic roots are discussed, one are from the German "ragin-walt" - a mighty ruler. Other theory about the origin of surname is the Rang a commune in the Doubs department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region in eastern France. Place where the estate would have been named after this place in Portugal with the addition of the suffix EL The Surname came from the estate of “Ronge or Range”, later Rangel, located in Ribeira de Coselhas, Coimbra Portugal. It belonged to Gundisalvus and was taken from the Moors, during the siege of Coimbra in 1117 in the Christian reconquest of the Iberian peninsula. The surname is found in Portugal, Spain, Germany, France, England, United States, Brazil, Venezuela, Mexico, Russia, East Timor, and Angola.
In places like Mexico the surname is strictly linked to the Spanish branch of the surname during colonial ages, in other places are the original Portuguese branch. In Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Hawaii, New England in general and in The United Kingdom the surname is closely related to recent portuguese migrations.
Notable people with this name
- Ana Maria Rangel, Brazilian politician; she was the Progressive Republican Party presidential candidate in 2006
- Àngel Rangel, Spanish former football player who played for Swansea City
- Beatrice Rangel, Venezuelan writer and politician
- Carlos Rangel, Venezuelan writer, liberal, journalist and diplomat.
- Carlos Rangel Garbiras, Venezuelan physician and politician
- Charles B. Rangel, Democratic member of the USA House of Representatives, 1971-2017
- David Rangel, Mexican football (soccer) player
- David Rangel Pastor, Spanish football player currently playing for CD Castellón
- Domingo Alberto Rangel, Venezuelan writer, journalist, founder of MIR leftist party
- Esdras Rangel, Mexican football (soccer) goalkeeper
- Eleazar Diaz Rangel, Venezuelan journalist, director of Ultimas Noticias newspaper
- Francisco Rangel Gómez, Venezuelan militar, governor of Bolivar state
- Godofredo Rangel, Brazilian writer
- Gustavo Rangel Briceño, Venezuelan militar, ex Defense Minister
- Henry Rangel Silva, Venezuelan militar, ex Defense Minister, governor of Trujillo state
- Irma Rangel (Texas politician), (d. 2003), member of the Texas House of Representatives
- José Vicente Rangel, a Venezuelan leftist politician
- José Vicente Rangel Ávalos, vice minister of Interior, Justice and Peace of Venezuela
- Juana Rangel de Cuellar, the founder of the Colombian city of Cúcuta
- Julio César Rangel, Colombian road cyclist
- Leonel Godoy Rangel, Mexican lawyer, politician and the current governor of Michoacán
- Licinio Rangel (1936–2002), bishop of the Catholic Church in Campos, Brazil
- Loren Ferré Rangel, trustee of the Conservation Trust of Puerto Rico
- Rafael Rangel, Venezuelan microbiologist
- Rafael Rangel Sostmann, president of Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico
- Rubén Rangel (born 1977), Venezuelan road cyclist
- Víctor Rangel Ayala, a Mexican footballer
- Arturo Soto Rangel, Mexican film, television, and stage actor
- Beatriz Paredes Rangel, Mexican politician affiliated to the Institutional Revolutionary Party