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:
“Behind us, as we go, all things assume pleasing forms, as clouds do far off. Not only things familiar and stale, but even the tragic and terrible, are comely, as they take their place in the pictures of memory.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)