Brownson is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:
Callie Brownson (born 1989), American football coach Carleton Lewis Brownson (1866–1948), American educator Charles B. Brownson (1914–1988), American politician Derry Brownson (born 1970), English musician Deborah Brownson (born 1974), British autism campaigner Helen Brownson (1917–2017), American information scientist Isabella Brownson (born 1998), English actress James I. Brownson (1817–1899), American clergyman and academic John W. Brownson (New York politician) (1807–1860), American politician John W. Brownson (Wisconsin politician), (1842-?), American politician Mark Brownson (1975–2017), American baseball player Nathan Brownson (1742–1796), American physician and politician Oliver Brownson (1746–1815), American composer and publisher Orestes Brownson (1803–1876), American philosopher and writer Robert Brownson (1922–1975), American football and basketball coach Sarah Brownson (1839–1876), American writer Willard H. Brownson (1845–1935), American naval admiral
See also Brownson Islands, outside the entrance to Cranton Bay USS Brownson (DD-518), aFletcher-class destroyer, launched in 1942 and sunk in action 1943 USS Brownson (DD-868), a Gearing-class destroyer, launched in 1945 and struck in 1976