Svendsen is a Danish and Norwegian surname. It was originally a patronymic which means "son of Svend".

Notable people with the surname include:

• Arnljot Ole Strømme Svendsen (1921–2022), Norwegian economist
• Asger Svendsen (contemporary), Danish musician and music professor
• Bud Svendsen (1915–1996), American professional football player
• Christian Valdemar Svendsen (1890–1959), Danish Olympic gymnast
• Conrad Bonnevie-Svendsen (1898–1983), Norwegian government minister and priest
• Conrad Svendsen (1862–1943), Norwegian priest and teacher for the deaf
• Conrad Vogt-Svendsen (1914–1973), Norwegian priest
• Elga Olga Svendsen (1906–1992), Danish film actress
• Emil Hegle Svendsen (born 1985), Norwegian biathlete
• Eyvind Johan-Svendsen (1896–1946), Danish stage and film actor
• Flemming Kofod-Svendsen (born 1944), Danish minister in the Lutheran Church of Denmark
• George Svendsen (1913–1995), American professional football and basketball player
• Hartvig Svendsen (1902–1971), Norwegian politician
• Kester Svendsen (1912–1968), educator, author, chess administrator
• Johan Svendsen (1840–1911), Norwegian composer, conductor and violinist
• Kenneth Svendsen (born 1954), Norwegian politician
• Kjell Arild Svendsen (born 1953), Norwegian politician
• Lars Svendsen (born 1970), Norwegian philosopher
• Linda Svendsen (born 1954), Canadian screenwriter and author of Norwegian heritage
• Nicklas Svendsen (born 1986), Danish football player
• Ole Svendsen (born 1952), Danish boxer
• Olga Svendsen (1883–1942), Danish stage and film actress
• Poul Svendsen (1927–2024), Danish rower
• Rupert Svendsen-Cook (born 1990), British race-car driver of Norwegian heritage
• Sander Svendsen (born 1997), Norwegian footballer
• Sigvald Svendsen (1895–1956), Norwegian politician
• Svend Rasmussen Svendsen (1864–1945), Norwegian American impressionist artist
• Therese Svendsen (born 1989), Swedish swimmer
• Torgeir Svendsen (1910–1981), Norwegian politician
• Zoë Svendsen, British academic and director

• Svendsen Peninsula, Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada