Essex is an Anglo-Saxon locational surname, for someone from Essex, England.^[1] Notable people with the surname include:

• David Essex (born 1947), English actor, singer-songwriter, and musician
• Frankie Essex, TV personality on reality show The Only Way is Essex
• Joey Essex, TV personality on reality show The Only Way is Essex
• Karen Essex, American novelist, screenwriter, and journalist
• Mark Essex (1949–1973), American spree killer
• Trai Essex (born 1982), American professional football player
• Mrs Rock (died after 1779), English actor also known as Miss Essex
• Nadia Essex (born 1981/2), TV personality
• Robyn Essex, member of the Kansas House of Representatives

Fictional characters:

• Nathaniel Essex, the true identity of Mister Sinister, a Marvel comics supervillain