Paterson is a Scottish and Irish surname meaning "Father's son" or "son of Patrick". In Connacht, and Ulster, the name is considered to be an Anglicised form of the Irish language surname Ó Casáin. Paterson is rarely used as a given name. There are other spellings, including Patterson. Notable people with the surname include:

• Adrian Paterson, South African-Australian nuclear scientist
• Aileen Paterson (1934–2018), Scottish children's writer
• Andrew Paterson (disambiguation), multiple people
• Alasdair Paterson, Scottish poet
• Alex Paterson (born 1959), English musician
• Alexander Paterson (1844–1908), Australian politician
• Sir Alexander Paterson (1884–1947), British prison reformer
• Algy Paterson (died 1995), Australian last speaker of the Martuthunira language
• Andrew J. Paterson (born 1952), Canadian artist
• Archie Paterson (1908–1995), Scottish footballer
• Banjo Paterson (1864–1941), Australian poet
• Barbara Paterson (born 1935), Canadian sculptor
• Basil A. Paterson (1926–2014), New York politician
• Bill Paterson (footballer, born 1897) (1897–1970), Scottish footballer
• Bill Paterson (footballer, born 1930) (1930–2002), Scottish footballer
• Bill Paterson (actor) (born 1945), Scottish actor
• Callum Paterson (born 1994), Scottish footballer
• Charles Paterson (1882–1973), Scottish cricketer
• Chris Paterson (born 1978), Scottish rugby union player
• Chris Paterson (rugby league) (born 1980), Australian rugby league player
• Craig Paterson (born 1959), Scottish footballer
• Colin Paterson (born 1974), Scottish journalist and broadcaster
• Cory Paterson (born 1987), Australian Rugby League player
• David Paterson (born 1954), American politician, Governor of New York
• Don Paterson (born 1963), Scottish poet, writer and musician
• Emma Paterson (1848–1886), English feminist and trade unionist
• Fred Paterson (1897–1977), Australian politician
• Gil Paterson (born 1942), Scottish politician
• Helen Paterson, birth name of Helen Allingham (1848–1926), British painter
• Iain Paterson (born 1973), Scottish baritone
• Isabel Paterson (1886–1961), Canadian libertarian writer
• Jack Paterson (born 1974), Canadian director, devisor, dramaturg, translator, actor
• James Paterson (disambiguation), multiple people
• James Hamilton-Paterson (born 1941), British novelist and poet
• Jamie Paterson (disambiguation), several people
• Jennifer Paterson (1928–1999), British television chef
• Jodi Ann Paterson (born 1975), American model and actress
• John Paterson (disambiguation), multiple people
• Katherine Paterson (born 1932), American children's writer
• Lee Paterson (born 1981), British rugby league footballer
• Lloyd H. Paterson (1925–1988), New York politician
• Marr Paterson (1887–?), Scottish footballer
• Markus Paterson (born 1998), British-Filipino actor, singer, television host, and footballer
• Martin Paterson (born 1987), British football player and coach
• Matthew C. Paterson (died 1846), American lawyer and politician from New York
• Meg Paterson, fictional character in British TV series Monarch of the Glen
• Mike Paterson (born 1942), British computer scientist
• Neil Paterson (disambiguation), multiple people
• Owen Paterson (born 1956), British politician
• Owen Paterson, Australian production designer on The Matrix films
• Rex Paterson (1902–1978), English agricultural pioneer
• Robert Paterson (disambiguation), multiple people
• Stan Paterson (1924–2013), British glaciologist
• Tania Paterson (born 1972), New Zealand competitive diver
• Thomas Paterson (disambiguation), multiple people
• Tim Paterson (born 1956), American computer programmer, author of MS-DOS
• Tom Paterson, Scottish comics artist
• Viola Paterson (1899–1981), Scottish painter, wood engraver and colour woodcut artist
• William Paterson (disambiguation), multiple people

• Paterson (given name)
• Patterson (surname)