Prior is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:
Alex Prior (born 1992), Russian child prodigy composer
Alfredo Prior (1952–2024), Argentine painter, writer, performer, and musician
Anthony Prior (born 1970), American football player
Arthur Prior (1914–1969), philosopher and logician
David Prior (disambiguation), multiple people
Edward Gawler Prior (1853–1920), Canadian politician and 15th Premier of British Columbia
G. Cosens Prior (1855–1937), English solicitor and social reformer
George Thurland Prior (1862–1936), British mineralogist
Hans Peter Prior (1866–1936), Danish industrialist
Jim Prior (James Prior, Baron Prior) (1927–2016), British politician
John Prior (musician) (born 1960), Australian musician
Maddy Prior (born 1947), English singer
Margaret Prior (1773–1842), American humanitarian, missionary, moral reform worker, writer
Marina Prior (born 1963), Australian singer and actress
Mark Prior (born 1980), baseball pitcher
Mary Prior (born 1942), British Lord–Lieutenant for Bristol
Matt Prior (born 1982), English cricketer
Matthew Prior (1664–1721), English poet
Redvers Prior (1893–1964), British politician and Royal Navy officer
Richard Chandler Alexander Prior (1892–1902), English physician and botanist
Sharron Prior (died 1975), Canadian murder victim
Spencer Prior (born 1971), English footballer
William J. Prior (1946–2026), American philosopher and academic