Adamson is an English patronymic surname meaning "son of Adam".[1] It is rare as a given name, although there has been a tradition in some families for the first-born son to be called Adam. People with the surname Adamson include:
- Adam Adamson (1884–1984), New Zealand businessman
- Agar Adamson (1865–1929), Canadian Light Infantry officer 1916 to 1918
- Al Adamson (1925–1995), B-grade horror movie director
- Amandus Adamson (1855–1929), Estonian sculptor and painter
- Andrew Adamson (born 1966), New Zealand film director
- Anthony Adamson (1906–2002), Canadian architect, author, teacher and municipal politician
- Barry Adamson (born 1958), English rock musician
- Bartlett Adamson, (1884–1951), Australian author
- Callum Adamson, British businessman and musician
- Campbell Adamson (1922–2000), British industrialist
- Carey Adamson (1942–2019), Royal New Zealand Air Force officer
- Catherine Adamson (1868–1925), New Zealand homemaker, farmer and diarist
- Charlie Adamson (1875–1918), English rugby union player
- Chris Adamson (born 1978), English footballer
- Christine Adamson (born 1962/1963), Australian judge
- Christopher Adamson (actor) (born 1956), British actor
- Clare Adamson (born 1968), Member of Scottish Parliament
- Daniel Adamson (1820–1890), English engineer
- David B. Adamson (1823–1891), farm implement manufacturer and inventor in South Australia
- Derick Adamson (born 1958), Jamaican marathon runner
- Donald Adamson (born 1939), British author and historian
- Edward Adamson (1911–1996), British artist and pioneer of Art Therapy
- Frances Adamson (born 1961), Australian public servant, diplomat, 36th Governor of South Australia
- George Adamson (1906–1989), Indian-born wildlife conservationist and author
- George Lucas Adamson, founder of Adamson University
- George Worsley Adamson (1913–2005), American and British illustrator and author
- Grant Adamson, Australian rugby league player
- Harold Adamson (1906–1980), American lyricist
- Harry Adamson (1912–1989), English footballer
- Harvey Adamson (1854–1941), Lieutenant Governor of Burma
- Hendrik Adamson (1891–1946), Estonian poet
- Henry Adamson, (1581–1637), Scottish poet and historian
- Hugh Adamson, Scottish footballer who played for Bolton Wanderers and Everton
- Ian Adamson (1944–2019), Irish politician and medical doctor
- Isaac Adamson (born 1971), American author
- Jack Adamson (1873–1937), Australian rules footballer
- Jack H. Adamson (1918–1975), American academic
- James B. Adamson, American businessman
- James Bradshaw Adamson (1921–2003), General in U.S. Army
- James C. Adamson (born 1946), astronaut
- James Hazel Adamson (1829–1902), South Australian inventor and artist
- Janet Adamson (1882–1962), Scottish politician
- Jean Adamson (born 1928), British children's writer and illustrator
- Jim Adamson (1905–1991), Australian rules footballer
- Jimmy Adamson (1929–2011), English professional footballer
- Jimmy Adamson (Scottish footballer), Scottish footballer
- John Adamson (disambiguation), multiple people
- John William Adamson (1857–1949), British educationist
- Joy Adamson (1910–1980), Czech-born British naturalist and author
- Julia Adamson (born 1960), Canadian-born British composer
- Ken Adamson (1938–2023), American footballer
- Lawrence Adamson (1860–1932), Australian schoolmaster
- Lee Adamson (born 1946), Australian rules footballer
- Maggie Adamson, Scottish musician
- Matt Adamson (born 1972), Australian rugby league player
- Mike Adamson (footballer) (born 1949), Scottish footballer
- Sarah Gough Adamson (1888–1963), British artist
- Shpongle born Michele Adamson, rave and trance DJ
- Nej Adamson (born 1958), British actor
- Nicolas Clark Adamson (born 1938), Royal courtier
- Patrick Adamson (1537–1592), Scottish prelate
- Peter Adamson (politician) (born 1961), Lord Mayor of Darwin
- Peter Adamson (actor) (1930–2002), British actor
- Peter Adamson (academic) (born 1972), professor of philosophy
- Phil Adamson, Australian rugby league player
- Raymond Adamson (1920–2002), British actor
- Robert Adamson (disambiguation)
- Samuel Adamson, playwright
- Stephen Adamson, Irish lawn and indoor bowler
- Stuart Adamson (1958–2001), British rock musician
- Thomas Adamson (priest) (1926–1991)
- Thomas Adamson (disambiguation)
- Tiahni Adamson, Australian wildlife conservation biologist
- Tom Adamson, Scottish footballer who played for Brentford and Bury
- Tommy Adamson, Scottish footballer who played for Dundee United and Forfar Athletic
- William Adamson (1863–1936), Leader of the British Labour Party
- William Adamson (Wisconsin politician) (1834–1907), American politician
- William Agar Adamson (1800–1868), Canadian clergyman and author
- William C. Adamson (1854–1929), American politician from Georgia
- William Murdoch Adamson (1881–1945), British Labour politician
- Yilpi Adamson (born 1954), Australian artist