Paterson is a Scottish and Irish surname meaning "Fathers' 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 scientist
• Aileen Paterson, Scottish children's writer
• Andrew Paterson (disambiguation), multiple people
• Alasdair Paterson, Scottish poet
• Alex Paterson (1959), English musician
• Alexander Paterson, Australian politician
• Sir Alexander Paterson, British prison reformer
• Algy Paterson, Australian last speaker of the Martuthunira language
• Andrew J. Paterson, Canadian artist
• Archie Paterson, Scottish footballer
• Banjo Paterson, Australian poet
• Barbara Paterson, Canadian sculptor
• Basil A. Paterson (1926–2014), New York politician
• Bill Paterson (actor), Scottish actor
• Callum Paterson (born 1994), Scottish footballer
• Charles Paterson (1882–1973), Scottish cricketer
• Chris Paterson, Scottish rugby player
• Craig Paterson (born 1959), Scottish footballer
• Colin Paterson, Scottish entrepreneur
• Cory Paterson, Australian Rugby League player
• David Paterson, New York Governor
• Don Paterson, Scottish poet
• Fred Paterson, Australian politician
• Gil Paterson, Scottish politician
• Helen Mary Elizabeth Paterson, birth name of Helen Allingham (1848–1926), British painter
• Iain Paterson, Scottish baritone
• Isabel Paterson, Canadian libertarian writer
• Jack Paterson (born 1974), Canadian director, devisor, dramaturg, translator, actor
• James Paterson (disambiguation), multiple people
• James Hamilton-Paterson, British novelist and poet
• Jamie Paterson (disambiguation), several people
• Jennifer Paterson (1928–1999), British television chef
• Jodi Ann Paterson, American model and actress
• John Paterson (disambiguation), multiple people
• Katherine Paterson, American children's writer
• Lee Paterson, rugby league footballer for Scotland, Keighley Cougars, York, Batley Bulldogs, Carpentras XIII, Widnes Vikings, and Featherstone Rovers
• Lloyd H. Paterson (1925–1988), New York politician
• Marr Paterson (1887–?), Scottish footballer
• Markus Paterson, British-Filipino actor, singer, television host, and footballer
• Martin Paterson, English born Northern Ireland footballer
• Matthew C. Paterson (died 1846), New York County D.A.
• Meg Paterson, fictional character from Monarch of the Glen
• Mike Paterson, Professor of Computer Science at the University of Warwick
• Neil Paterson (disambiguation), multiple people
• Owen Paterson, British politician
• Owen Paterson, Australian production designer on The Matrix Series
• Rex Paterson, British agriculturalist
• Robert Paterson (disambiguation), multiple people
• Stan Paterson (1924–2013), British glaciologist
• Tania Paterson (born 1972), retired competitive diver from New Zealand
• Thomas Paterson (disambiguation), multiple people
• Tim Paterson, American computer programmer, author of MS-DOS
• Tom Paterson, Scottish comics artist
• Viola Paterson, Scottish artist
• William Paterson (disambiguation), multiple people