Emerson is a surname derived from Anglo-Saxon Emars sunu, meaning "son of Emar" or "son of Ethelmar". It commonly misinterpreted that the name is derived from "Emery's son". As a surname, Emerson may refer to:
In Literature
- Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882), American writer philosopher, and transcendentalist
- Claudia Emerson (born 1957), American professor and Pulitzer Prize-winning poet
- Earl Emerson (born 1948), American mystery novelist
- Edward Waldo Emerson (1844-1930), son of Ralph Waldo, he wrote a book on Henry Thoreau
- Efrem Emerson, American fiction writer
- George Barrell Emerson (1797–1881), American educator and pioneer of women's education rights
- Hunt Emerson (born 1952), English cartoonist and graphic novelist
- Nathaniel Bright Emerson (1839–1915), American physician and author of Hawaiian mythology
- Steven Emerson, American print and broadcast investigative journalist
- William Emerson (minister) (1769–1811), American philosopher, and father of Ralph Waldo Emerson
In Art
- Arthur Webster Emerson, American/Hawaiian painter
- Keith Emerson (born 1944), English composer, keyboardist and member of Emerson, Lake & Palmer
- Peter Henry Emerson (1856–1936), Cuban-born British photographer
- Stuart Emerson, UK guitarist associated with his own band Emerson and Meat Loaf
In Business
- Ernest Emerson (born 1955), American messersmith, and martial arts expert
- John Wesley Emerson (1832–1899), lawyer, historian, Civil War officer, and founder of the Emerson Electric Company
In Entertainment
- Billy "The Kid" Emerson (born 1929), African-American R&B musician
- Faye Emerson (1917–1983), American film actress and television personality
- Hope Emerson (1897–1960), American film actress
- Michael Emerson (born 1954), American stage and screen actor
- Rick Emerson (born 1973), American radio personality in Portland, Oregon
In Sciences
- Alfred E. Emerson (1896– 1976), American biologist
- E. Allen Emerson, computer scientist
- John Haven Emerson (1906–1997), American inventor of biomedical devices
- Rollins A. Emerson (1873–1947), American geneticist
- William Emerson (mathematician) (1701–1782), English eccentric, scientist and philosopher
- William Henry Emerson (1860-1924), American chemist
- William Keith Emerson (born 1928) American malacologist
In Politics
- Arthur Emerson, 21st Governor of American Samoa
- Bill Emerson (1938–1996), aka Norvell William Emerson, American US congressman from Missouri
- Craig Emerson (born 1954), Australian Labor Party representative from Queensland
- David Emerson (born 1945), Canadian politician, businessman, civil servant
- Frank Emerson (1882–1931), American politician, former governor of the US state of Wyoming
- Jo Ann Emerson (born 1950), American congresswoman from Missouri, and widow of former congressman Bill Emerson
- John Emerson (mayor) (1859–1932), Canadian politician; former mayor of Calgary, Alberta
- Newton Emerson, Northern Irish political commentator and satirist
- Rupert Emerson (1899–1979), American professor of political science and international relations
In Sport
- Denise Emerson (born 1960), Australian cricketer
- Eddie Emerson (1892-1970), Canadian football player
- Gary Emerson (born 1963), English golfer and winner of the 2004 Russian Open
- Nelson Emerson (born 1967), Canadian right wing hockey player formerly in the National Hockey League
- Ross Emerson (born 1954), Australian international cricket umpire
- Roy Emerson (born 1936), Australian tennis player
Other
- Henry E. Emerson (1926 or 1928-2011), American military leader
- Meredith Emerson, American murdered whilst hiking on Blood Mountain
Famous quotes containing the word emerson:
“If any mention was made of homicide, madness, adultery, and intolerable tortures, we would let the church-bells ring louder, the church-organ swell its peal and drown the hideous sound. The sugar they raised was excellent: nobody tasted blood in it.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)