Thayer () is an English surname found in Somerset, the name and given name derived from English tawyer, one who dressed skins. Notable people with the surname include:
Abbott Handerson Thayer (1849–1921), American artist Adin Thayer (1816–1890), New York politician Alexander Wheelock Thayer (1817–1897), author of The life of Ludwig van Beethoven, a standard biography, and other music biographies Albert R. Thayer (1878–1965), painter and etcher America Thayer (died 2021), American murder victim Amos Madden Thayer (1841–1905), United States federal judge Andrew J. Thayer (1818–1873), attorney and legislator Bronson Thayer (1939–2016), executive Brynn Thayer (born 1949), American actress Caroline Matilda Warren Thayer, American educator, novelist and children's writer Charles W. Thayer (1910–1969), US military officer, diplomat and author (fiction and non fiction) Dale Thayer (born 1980), baseball pitcher David Thayer (born 1949), birth name of Teddy Harvia, cartoonist Deborah Jinza Thayer, choreographer Donnette Thayer, vocalist and guitarist Douglas Thayer (1929–2017), American writer Edwin Pope Thayer, Secretary of the United States Senate 1925–1933 Eli Thayer (1819–1899), Kansas politician Ella Cheever Thayer (1849–1925), playwright and novelist Emma Homan Thayer (1842–1908), American botanical artist and author Ernest Thayer (1863–1940), American poet, author of "Casey at the Bat" Francis S. Thayer (1822–1880), New York politician George Thayer (football player), American football player and businessman (1905–1952) George Thayer (writer), American political writer (1933–1973) Greg Thayer (born 1949), baseball pitcher Harry Thayer (disambiguation), several people Helen Thayer, explorer Helen Rand Thayer (1863-1935), American social reformer Henry W. Thayer (1867-1940), co-founder of the Decorative Designers James Thayer (author) (born 1949), thriller writer James Thayer (Medal of Honor) (1853–86), United States Navy sailor and Medal of Honor recipient James Bradley Thayer (1831–1902), American legal writer and educationist James B. Thayer (1922–2018), United States military officer and businessman Jeritt Thayer (born 1986), American soccer player Jesse B. Thayer (1845–1910), educator John Thayer (disambiguation), several people Joseph Henry Thayer (1828–1901), American biblical scholar Lizzie E. D. Thayer (1857–1923), first female train dispatcher in the US Lorna Thayer (1919–2005), American actress Maria Thayer (born 1975), American actress/comedian Marian Thayer, Titanic survivor Martin Russell Thayer (1819–1906), politician Max Thayer (born 1946), American movie actor Nate Thayer (1960-2023), American journalist who interviewed Pol Pot Nathaniel Thayer (1769–1840), minister Nathaniel Thayer, Jr. (1808–1883), railroad developer Orla Ed Thayer, inventor of the Thayer Valve for trombones Otis B. Thayer (1862–1935), American actor, director and film producer Pam Thayer, American politician Pauline Revere Thayer (1860–1934), benefactor Robert H. Thayer (1901–1984), American lawyer, naval officer and diplomat. Samuel J. F. Thayer (1842–1893), American architect Samuel J. Thayer (born 1976), American wild food forager and author Samuel R. Thayer (1837–1909), attorney and diplomat Scofield Thayer (1889–1982), American poet and publisher Sigourney Thayer (1896–1944), theatrical producer Simeon Thayer (1737–1800), American officer of the American Revolutionary War Stella F. Thayer (born 1940), president of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Steve Thayer (born 1953), novelist Stuart Thayer (1926–2009), American circus historian Susan Thayer, American artist Sylvanus Thayer (1785–1872), United States general Thomas Thayer (1812–1886), theologian Tiffany Thayer (1902–1959), founder of the Fortean Society Tom Thayer (born 1961), NFL player Tommy Thayer (born 1960), lead guitarist of KISS W. Paul Thayer (William Paul Thayer, 1919–2010), test pilot W. W. Thayer (William Wallace Thayer, 1827–1899), sixth Governor of Oregon Wallace Thayer (1866–1944), New York assemblyman Webster Thayer (1857–1933), the judge at the trial of Sacco and Vanzetti Whitney Eugene Thayer (1838–1889), American organist and composer William Thayer (disambiguation), several people
See also Thayer David (1927–1978), film and TV actor Thayer Munford (born 1999), American football player Thayer family, Boston Brahmin and prominent American political family Justice Thayer (disambiguation)