Dowson is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:
Anne Lagacé Dowson, Canadian broadcaster and politician
David Dowson (born 1988), English footballer
Duncan Dowson (born 1928), British engineer and professor emeritus at University of Leeds
Ernest Dowson (1867–1900), British poet
John Dowson, historian of India
Murray Dowson (1915–?), Canadian Trotskyist
Phil Dowson (born 1981), English Rugby player
Philip Dowson (1924-2014), British architect
Ross Dowson (1918-2002), Canadian Trotskyist
