There have been several notable people named William Robinson, including:

• Sir William Robinson (1836-1912) - governor of Trinidad and Tobago 1885–1891 and Hong Kong 1891–1898
• William Robinson (gardener) (1838-1935) - gardener and journalist
• William Robinson (engineer) (1840-1921) - civil engineer who developed electric signals for American railroads
• William Heath Robinson (1872-1944) - British cartoonist and illustrator
• Bill Robinson (1878-1946) - American tap dancer known as Mr. Bojangles
• Smokey Robinson (1940- ) - African American pop-singer
• William Robinson (artist) - award-winning artist
• Sir William Cleaver Francis Robinson (1834–1897) - British colonial administrator and a musical composer
• William "Ready Money" Robinson, the founder of the town of Cheviot, New Zealand
• William Robinson (of Salt Spring) - Murder victim in 1867/1868
• Chung Ling Soo (1861-1918), was the stage name of a magician who's real name was William Robinson

See also fictional character Will Robinson.