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 edit