Donaldson is a patronymic surname meaning "son of Donald". There are other spellings. Notable people with the surname include:
Alastair Donaldson (1955–2013), Scottish bass guitar player for the band The RezillosAlex Donaldson (1890–unknown), Scottish footballerAlexander Donaldson (disambiguation), several peopleAlly Donaldson (born 1943), Scottish footballer (List of Falkirk F.C. players)Arthur Donaldson (1901–1993), Scottish politician, and leader of the Scottish National Party from 1960 to 1969Arthur Donaldson (actor) (1869–1955), Swedish-American actorBen Donaldson, Australian rugby league playerBob Donaldson, Scottish football playerBob Donaldson (news anchor), television news anchor at WXIN Fox 59 in Indianapolis, IndianaBobby Donaldson (1922–1971), American jazz drummerBruce Donaldson (born 1938), Australian politicianCharles Donaldson (1903–1964), Scottish Conservative Party politicianChris Donaldson (born 1975), New Zealand sprinterClayton Donaldson (born 1984), English footballerClyde Donaldson (born 1894), Australian rules footballerColby Donaldson (born 1974), American television actorDave Donaldson (footballer born 1954), English former footballer for Millwall and Cambridge UnitedDave Donaldson (footballer born 1941), English former footballer for WimbledonDavid Donaldson (disambiguation), several peopleDenis Donaldson (1950–2006), volunteer in the Provisional IRA and a member of Sinn FéinDoug Donaldson, Canadian politicianEd Donaldson (born 1959), professional boxerEdward Donaldson (1816–89), American naval officerEdward Mortlock Donaldson CB CBE DSO AFC* LoM (1912–1992), RAF World War 2 AceElena Donaldson-Akhmilovskaya (born 1957), woman grandmaster of chessEric Donaldson (born 1947), Jamaican reggae singer-songwriterFrances Donaldson, Baroness Donaldson of Kingsbridge (née Lonsdale) (1907–1994), British writer and biographerFred Donaldson (born 1937), English former footballerGary Donaldson (born 1952), retired ice hockey playerGlenn Donaldson, American musicianGordon Donaldson CBE, FRHistS, FBA (1913–1993), Scottish historianGordon Donaldson (journalist) (1926–2001), Scottish-Canadian author and journalistGordon Graham Donaldson, (died 1809), senior officer in the British ArmyGraham Donaldson (born 1935), former Australian rules footballerGrant Donaldson (born 1976), New Zealand cricketerHarvey J. Donaldson (1848–1912), New York politicianHay Frederick Donaldson KCB (1856–1916), English mechanical engineerHelen Donaldson (born 1968), Australian opera singerIan Stuart Donaldson (1957–1993), the vocalist and frontman of British band SkrewdriverJ. Lyter Donaldson (1891–1960), the Democratic nominee for Governor of Kentucky in 1943Jack Donaldson, Baron Donaldson of Kingsbridge (1907–1998), British politician and public servantJames Donaldson (disambiguation), several peopleJamie Donaldson (born 1975), Welsh golferJeff Donaldson (disambiguation), several peopleJeffery Donaldson, Canadian poet, critic, and theoristJeffrey Donaldson, MP, MLA (born 1962), Northern Irish politicianJesse M. Donaldson (born 1885), USA Postmaster General from 1947 to 1953Joan Donaldson (1946–2006), Canadian journalist, founding head of CBC NewsworldJohn Donaldson (disambiguation), several peopleJohn Donaldson, Baron Donaldson of Lymington, PC (1920–2005), senior British judge and Master of the RollsJohnny Donaldson, American guitarist in the Minnesota rock band ChameleonJoseph Donaldson (born 1891), politician in Manitoba, CanadaJosh Donaldson, American professional third baseman for the Toronto Blue JaysJulia Donaldson (born 1948), English writer and playwright living in ScotlandJulie Donaldson, beauty queen from Ponte Vedra Beach, FloridaKim Donaldson, Zimbabwean artist who specialises in painting the peoples and wildlife of AfricaKristian Donaldson, comic book artist and designer based in Dallas, TexasLiam Donaldson (born 1949), the Chief Medical Officer for EnglandLily Donaldson (born 1987), British modelLou Donaldson (born 1926), jazz alto saxophonistMargaret Donaldson, Professor of Developmental Psychology at the University of EdinburghMark Donaldson VC (born 1979), the first recipient of the Victoria Cross for AustraliaMark Donaldson (rugby player) (born 1955), New Zealand All Black rugby union playerMary Donaldson, Baroness Donaldson of Lymington, GBE DStJ (1921–2003), Lord Mayor of London (1983–1984)Mary Elizabeth Donaldson, now Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark (born 1972), Australian-born Crown Princess of DenmarkMichael Donaldson (disambiguation), several peopleNorma Donaldson (July 8, 1928 – November 22, 1994), American actress and singerO'Neill Donaldson (born 1969), English former footballerPat Donaldson (b c 1943, in Edinburgh, Lothian, Scotland), bass guitaristPete Donaldson, Radio and Television presenterPeter Donaldson (disambiguation), several peopleRay Donaldson (born 1958), former American football CenterRebecca Donaldson-Katsopolis, fictional character on the TV sitcom Full HouseRobert Donaldson (born 1943), American political scientist known for his work regarding US and Russian foreign policyRoger Donaldson (born 1945), Australian-born New Zealand film producer, director and writerSam Donaldson (born 1934), reporter and news anchor for ABC NewsScott Donaldson (born 1994), Scottish professional snooker player.Simon Donaldson (born 1957), English mathematician famous for his work on the topology of smooth four-dimensional manifoldsSt Clair Donaldson (1863–1935), the first Anglican archbishop of Brisbane, AustraliaStephen Donaldson (activist) (1946–1996), born Robert Anthony Martin, American bisexual political activistStephen R. Donaldson (born 1947), American fantasy, science fiction and mystery novelistStewart Donaldson, Professor and Chair of Psychology, Claremont Graduate University in Claremont, CaliforniaStuart Donaldson (1812–1867), the first Premier of the Colony of New South WalesThomas Donaldson (disambiguation), several peopleTimothy Donaldson (1934–2013), Bahamian politician, banker, economist, and diplomatTrose Emmett Donaldson (1914–1942), awarded the Navy Cross for his heroism in December 1941 at Cavite, Philippine IslandsVance Young Donaldson (born 1791), soldier and penal administrator in the 57th Regiment under WellingtonWalter Donaldson (1893–1947), prolific United States popular songwriter, producing many hit songs of the 1910s and 1920sWalter Donaldson (snooker player) (1907–1973), Scottish professional snooker playerWilliam Donaldson (disambiguation), several people