Brownson is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:
Carleton Lewis Brownson (1866–1948), American educatorCharles B. Brownson (1914-1988), American politicianDerry Brownson (born 1970), English musicianJames I. Brownson (1817–1899), American clergyman and academicJohn W. Brownson (1807-1860), American politicianJohn W. Brownson (Wisconsin politician), (1842-?), American politicianMark Brownson (born 1975), American baseball playerNathan Brownson (1742–1796), American physician and politicianOliver Brownson (1746–1815), American composer and publisherOrestes Brownson (1803–1876), American philosopher and writerSarah Brownson (1839–1876), American writerWillard H. Brownson (1845–1935), American naval admiral