Donaldson is a Scottish and Irish patronymic surname meaning "son of Donald". It is a simpler Anglicized variant for the name MacDonald. Notable people with the surname include:
- Alastair Donaldson (1955–2013), Scottish musician
- Alex Donaldson (1890–1972), Scottish footballer
- Alexander Donaldson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Ally Donaldson (born 1943), Scottish footballer
- Andrea Donaldson, Canadian theatre director
- Andrew Brown Donaldson (1840–1919), English artist
- Andrew Donaldson (footballer, born 1884) (fl. 1910s), Scottish footballer
- Andy Donaldson (1925–1987), English footballer
- Arthur Donaldson (1901–1993), Scottish politician and journalist
- Arthur Donaldson (actor) (1869–1955), Swedish-American actor
- J. Lyter Donaldson (1891–1960), American politician
- Jack Donaldson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jakim Donaldson (born 1983), American basketball player in the Israeli National League
- James Donaldson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jamie Donaldson (born 1975), Welsh golfer
- Jared Donaldson (born 1996), American tennis player
- Jeff Donaldson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jeffery Donaldson, Canadian poet and critic
- Jeffrey Donaldson (born 1962), Northern Irish politician
- Jesse M. Donaldson (1885–1970), American politician
- Jimmy Donaldson (born 1998), American YouTuber known as MrBeast
- Joan Donaldson (1946–2006), Canadian journalist
- John Donaldson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Johnny Donaldson, American guitarist
- Joseph Donaldson (1891–1973), Canadian politician
- Josh Donaldson (born 1985), American baseball player
- Julia Donaldson (born 1948), English writer and playwright
- Julie Donaldson (born 1978), American journalist and beauty queen