Kohler is an occupational surname of German origin. It means "charcoal burner". Notable people with the surname include:

• Alan Kohler, Australian journalist
• Anton Kohler, German chess player
• Berthold Kohler (born 1961), German journalist
• Charles-Amédée Kohler (1790–1874), Swiss chocolate maker
• Ernesto Kohler (1849–1907), flautist and composer
• Fred Kohler, American actor
• Josef Kohler, German jurist
• Juliane Köhler, German actress
• Jürgen Kohler, former German football player
• Kaufmann Kohler (1843–1926), Reform rabbi
• Klaus J. Kohler, German phonetician
• Max J. Kohler, American lawyer
• Richie Kohler, shipwreck diver and historian
• Sheila Kohler, South African writer
• Peter Kohler, American writer, historian and philanthropist

Kohler family of Wisconsin

• David Kohler, businessman, President and CEO of Kohler Co.
• Herbert Kohler, Jr., businessman, Chairman of Kohler Co.
• John Michael Kohler, businessman, founder of Kohler Co.
• Terry Jodok Kohler, businessman
• Walter J. Kohler, Jr., governor of Wisconsin 1951–1957
• Walter J. Kohler, Sr., governor of Wisconsin 1929–1931