Esper is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:
Duke Esper (1868–1910), American professional baseball player
Dwain Esper (1892–1982), American film director and producer
Eugenius Johann Christoph Esper (1742–1810), German entomologist
George Esper (1932–2012), American journalist
Jan Esper (born 1968), Swiss scientist
Michael Esper, American actor