Bristow is a surname, derived from the earlier name of the city of Bristol. Notable people with the surname include:

• Abraham Bristow (c. 1771 – 1846), British mariner
• Alan Bristow (1923–2009), British helicopter entrepreneur, founder of Bristow Helicopters
• Allan Bristow (born 1951), American basketball coach
• Benjamin Bristow (1832–1896), American lawyer and politician
• Chris Bristow (1937–1960), British racing driver
• Edmund Bristow (1787–1876), English artist
• Emma Bristow (born 1990), British motorcycle racer
• Eric Bristow (1957–2018), English darts player
• George Bristow (disambiguation), any of several people by that name
• Grant Bristow (born 1958), Canadian security agent
• Guy Bristow (born 1955), English footballer
• Gwen Bristow (1903–1980), American author and journalist
• Henry William Bristow (1817–1889), English geologist
• John Bristow (1701–1768), English merchant and politician
• Joseph Bristow (professor), British academic
• Joseph L. Bristow (1861–1944), American politician
• Laurie Bristow (born 1963), British diplomat
• Mark Bristow (born 1962), English paralympic cyclist
• Mark Bristow (businessman) (born 1959), South African businessman
• Naomi Bristow (born 1997), Canadian country music artist
• Patrick Bristow (born 1962), American actor
• Paul Bristow, British politician
• Richard Bristow (1538–1581), English Catholic writer
• Robert Bristow (1662–1706), MP for Winchelsea 1698–1701
• Robert Bristow (1687–1737), MP for Winchelsea 1708–37
• Robert Bristow (1712–1776), MP for Winchelsea 1738–41, New Shoreham 1747–61
• Robert Bristow (engineer) (1880–1966), British harbour engineer best known for development of the port of Kochi in India