Despot is a Croatian and Serbian surname.
In Croatia, they are mostly from the environs of Ploče, where it was once the most common surname in Zaostrog, but today it is chiefly found in Zagreb, followed by Rijeka, Šibenik and Vinkovci. Many of its members have emigrated to South Africa, among other countries.
It may refer to:
Blaženka Despot (1930–2001), philosopher and sociologist
Branko Despot (born 1942), philosopher
Dragan Despot (born 1956), actor
Ilija Despot (1885–1970), poet and writer
Veljko Despot (born 1948), record producer