Prior is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:
Alex Prior (born 1992), Russian child prodigy composerAnthony Prior (born 1970), American football playerArthur Prior (1914–1969), philosopher and logicianDavid Prior (disambiguation), multiple peopleGeorge Thurland Prior, British mineralogistJames Prior, Baron Prior (1927–2016), British politicianJohn Prior (musician) (born 1960), Australian musicianMaddy Prior (born 1947), English singerMarina Prior (born 1963), Australian singer and actressMark Prior (born 1980), baseball pitcherMary Prior (born 1942), British Lord–Lieutenant for BristolMatthew Prior (1664–1721), English poetMatt Prior (born 1982), English cricketerSpencer Prior (born 1971), English footballer