A common surname for numerous notable individuals:
Historical
- Charles Montgomery Skinner (1852–1907), American writer
- Clarence Skinner (1881–1949), Universalist minister
- Constance Lindsay Skinner (1877–1939), Canadian writer, historian
- Ernest M. Skinner (1866–1960), pipe organ craftsman
- Eugene Skinner (1809–1864), founder of the town of Eugene, Oregon
- Francis Skinner (1912–1941), friend of Ludwig Wittgenstein
- Harrie Skinner (1854–1936), founder of the Royal Automobile Club of Australia (RACA)
- George Herbert Skinner (1872–1931), British carburetter manufactorer
- John Kendrick Skinner (1883–1918), a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross
- John Skinner (1721–1807), Scottish historian and song-writer
- Richard Skinner (1778–1833), American politician, attorney, and jurist from Vermont
- Quentin Skinner (born 1940), Regius Professor of Modern History at Cambridge University
- Thomas Skinner (1759–1818), British military engineer
- Thomas Skinner (1804–1877), Ceylon civil servant
Politics
- Alonzo A. Skinner (1814–1877), United States judge
- Carlton Skinner (1913 — June 22, 2004), Governor of Guam
- Clarence Skinner , New Zealand MP
- Dennis Skinner (born 1932), British MP for Bolsover
- Harry Skinner (1855–1929), US Representative from North Carolina
- Peter Skinner (born 1959), MEP for South East England
- Roger Skinner (1773—1825), New York judge
- Samuel K. Skinner (born 1938), White House Chief of Staff during the presidency of George H. W. Bush.
- Thomas Gregory Skinner (1842–1907), US Representative from North Carolina
- Thomson J. Skinner, US Representative from Massachusetts
- Tom Skinner, New Zealand trade unionist
- William I. Skinner (1812—1891), New York politician
Media
- Steve Keirn (born 1951), professional wrestler who performed under the name "Skinner"
- Claire Skinner (born 1965), English actress
- Cornelia Otis Skinner (1899–1979), American author and actress
- Frank Skinner (born 1957), English comedian
- Frank Skinner (1897–1968) - an American composer
- James Scott Skinner (1843–1947), Scottish fiddler
- Jane Skinner, Fox News daytime news anchor
- Mike Skinner (born 1978), British rapper who performs under the alias of The Streets
- Richard Skinner (born 1951), British radio broadcaster
Sports
- Steve Keirn (born 1951), a retired professional wrestler best known as "Skinner"
- Bob Skinner (born 1931 ), retired American professional baseball player
- Brian Skinner (born 1976 ), American professional basketball player currently playing for the Phoenix Suns of the NBA
- Jeff Skinner (born 1992), Canadian ice hockey player. Drafted in 2010 by the Carolina Hurricanes of the NHL
- Jimmy Skinner (1917–2007), former head coach of the Detroit Red Wings
- Joel Skinner (born 1961), former baseball player
- Jonty Skinner, South African Olympian and American swimming coach
- Mike Skinner (born 1957), NASCAR driver
- Todd Skinner (1958–2006), rock climber
Science
- B. F. Skinner (1904–1990), American behaviorist, psychologist and author
Fictional
- Rodney Skinner, the Invisible Man in the film The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
- Seymour Skinner (Principal Skinner), Springfield elementary school principal in The Simpsons
- Walter Skinner, character from the The X-Files
- Skinner the main antagonist and villain of the 2007 film Ratatouille
- Skinner , a fictional demon from Marvel Comics.
