Playfair is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:
Andrew W. Playfair (1790–1868), Canadian politician, son of William
Sir Edward Playfair (1909–1999), British civil servant and businessman
Henry Playfair (born 1983), Australian rules footballer
Hugh Lyon Playfair (1787–1861), Provost of St Andrews
Ian Stanley Ord Playfair (1894–1972), a general in the British Army
James Playfair (1755–1794), Scottish architect, brother of John, Robert and William, father of William Henry
Jim Playfair (born 1964), Canadian ice hockey player and coach, brother of Larry
John Playfair (1748–1819), Scottish scientist, mathematician, and professor of natural philosophy; brother of James, Robert and William
Judy Playfair (born 1953), Australian swimmer
Sir Lambert Playfair (1828–1899), British soldier and author
Larry Playfair (born 1958), Canadian ice hockey player and announcer, brother of Jim
Lyon Playfair, 1st Baron Playfair (1818–1898), promoter of the Playfair cipher, manual symmetric encryption technique
Sir Nigel Playfair (1874–1934), British actor and theater manager
Patrick Playfair (1889–1974), British air marshal in World War I & World War II
Robert Playfair (died 1825), solicitor before the Supreme Courts of Scotland, brother of John, James and William.
Wendy Playfair, Australian actress
William Playfair (1759–1823), Scottish engineer and political economist, inventor of statistical graphics, brother of James, Robert and John
William Henry Playfair (1790–1857), Scottish architect (National Gallery of Scotland, Royal Scottish Academy), son of James
John Playfair Price (1905–1988), British diplomat
