Burnell is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:
Alf Burnell (born 1924), English rugby league footballer of the 1950sArthur Coke Burnell (1840–1882), British translatorBarker Burnell (1798–1843), U.S. Representative from MassachusettsCassandra Burnell Southwick (circa 1600–1660), English American QuakerCharles Burnell (1876–1969), British rowerJocelyn Bell Burnell (born 1943), Northern Irish astrophysicistJoe Burnell (born 1980), English professional footballerPaul Burnell (21st century), Scottish rugby union footballerRobert Burnell (died 1292), English bishop