Svendsen is a Danish and Norwegian surname. It was originally a patronymic which means "son of Svend".
Notable people with the surname include:
- Arnljot Ole Strømme Svendsen (1921–2022), Norwegian economist
- Asger Svendsen (contemporary), Danish musician and music professor
- Bud Svendsen (1915–1996), American professional football player
- Christian Valdemar Svendsen (1890–1959), Danish Olympic gymnast
- Conrad Bonnevie-Svendsen (1898–1983), Norwegian government minister and priest
- Conrad Svendsen (1862–1943), Norwegian priest and teacher for the deaf
- Conrad Vogt-Svendsen (1914–1973), Norwegian priest
- Elga Olga Svendsen (1906–1992), Danish film actress
- Emil Hegle Svendsen (born 1985), Norwegian biathlete
- Eyvind Johan-Svendsen (1896–1946), Danish stage and film actor
- Flemming Kofod-Svendsen (born 1944), Danish minister in the Lutheran Church of Denmark
- George Svendsen (1913–1995), American professional football and basketball player
- Hartvig Svendsen (1902–1971), Norwegian politician
- Kester Svendsen (1912–1968), educator, author, chess administrator
- Johan Svendsen (1840–1911), Norwegian composer, conductor and violinist
- Kenneth Svendsen (born 1954), Norwegian politician
- Kjell Arild Svendsen (born 1953), Norwegian politician
- Lars Svendsen (born 1970), Norwegian philosopher
- Linda Svendsen (born 1954), Canadian screenwriter and author of Norwegian heritage
- Nicklas Svendsen (born 1986), Danish football player
- Ole Svendsen (born 1952), Danish boxer
- Olga Svendsen (1883–1942), Danish stage and film actress
- Rupert Svendsen-Cook (born 1990), British race-car driver of Norwegian heritage
- Sander Svendsen (born 1997), Norwegian footballer
- Sigvald Svendsen (1895–1956), Norwegian politician
- Svend Rasmussen Svendsen (1864–1945), Norwegian American impressionist artist
- Therese Svendsen (born 1989), Swedish swimmer
- Torgeir Svendsen (1910–1981), Norwegian politician
- Zoë Svendsen, British academic and director