Which fictional people are known as the Dúnedain in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth?

In J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth, the Dúnedain are descendants of Númenor.

The name Dúnedain means “Men of the West” in Sindarin. They are descendants of the Edain who were rewarded after the First Age with the island kingdom of Númenor. After Númenor was destroyed, survivors established realms in Middle-earth, chiefly Arnor in the north and Gondor in the south.

Aragorn is one of the Dúnedain. He belongs to the northern Dúnedain, often called the Rangers of the North, and is heir to the kings of Arnor and Gondor. Their long lifespans and traditions distinguish them from many other human peoples in the legendarium.

The term does not mean Elves, although Númenor’s history includes close links between Men and Elves. Nor does it describe every inhabitant of Gondor. It specifically refers to the Númenórean-descended Men of Middle-earth and their related lineages.