Chess is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:
Edwin R. Chess (1913–2000), United States Air Force general Jamar Chess (born 1980s), American music manager Leonard Chess (1917–1969), record company executive Lisa Chess, American actress Marshall Chess (born 1942), American record producer Mary Chess (1878–1964), American perfumer Phil Chess (1921–2016), American record producer Richard Chess (poet) (born 1953), American poet Richard B. Chess (born 1953), American politician Sammie Chess, Jr. (1934–2022), American attorney, civil rights activist, and judge Stanley Chess, American legal commentator Stella Chess (1914–2007), American child psychiatrist
Fictional characters Harry Chess, main character of the comic strip Harry Chess: That Man from A.U.N.T.I.E. Jane and Ryan Chess, characters in the 2016 American workplace teen comedy movie Hickey