Empson is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:
Derek Empson GBE KCB (1918–1997), Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command Ernest Empson (1880–1970), New Zealand pianist and piano teacher Hetta Empson (1915–1996), South African sculptor Jackie Empson (born 1974), British former field hockey player Richard Empson (died 1510), minister of Henry VII, King of England Ruth Empson, New Zealand physiology academic Susan Empson, American mathematics education academic Tameka Empson (born 1977), British actress (stage and screen) and comedian Walter Empson (1856–1934), New Zealand educator William Empson (1906–1984), English literary critic and poet William Empson (lawyer) (1791–1852), barrister, professor and journalist Richard Empson, a minister to King Henry VII of England and Privy Counselor
See also Empson River, river in the Canterbury Region of New Zealand Seven Types of Ambiguity (Empson), first published in 1930 by William Empson