Early is both a surname and a given name. Notable people with the name include:
Surname:
Alan Early, author
Cleanthony Early (born 1991), American basketball player
David Early (1938–2013), American actor
Gerald Early, writer, culture critic and professor
James M. Early, electrical engineer for whom the Early effect was named
John Early (disambiguation)
Joseph Early, congressman from Massachusetts
Jubal Anderson Early, American Civil War general
Margaret Early (1919-2000), American actress
Stephen Early (1889–1951), White House Press Secretary (1933–1945, 1950)
Steve Early (born 1956), American boxer
Given name:
Early Doucet, American football wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals
Early Wynn, Major League baseball pitcher, elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972
Fictional characters:
Early Cuyler, an anthropomorphic hillbilly squid in The Squidbillies.
Early Grayce, a sociopath in the film Kalifornia.
Jubal Early a fictional bounty hunter from the television series Firefly
