Polkinghorne is a Cornish-language surname. Notable people with the surname include:
Adam Polkinghorne (born 1975), cricketer Clare Polkinghorne (born 1989), football player David Polkinghorne (footballer) (born 1956), footballer David Polkinghorne (cricketer) (born 1964), banker and cricketer Donald E. Polkinghorne (1936–2018), American academic and psychologist Francis Polkinghorne Pascoe (1813–1893), entomologist James Polkinghorne (1788–1854), wrestler James Polkinghorne (footballer) (born 1989), football player John Polkinghorne (1930–2021), physicist and theologian Robert Polkinghorne (born 1958), footballer