Paterno is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:
Charles V. Paterno (1876–1946), American real estate developer
Dolores Paterno (1854–1881), Filipina composer, sister of Pedro Paterno
Emanuele Paternò (1847–1935), Italian chemist
Fabio Paternò, Italian computer scientist
Jay Paterno, Joe Paterno's son and former assistant coach to his father
Joe Paterno (1926–2012), American college football coach
Pedro Paterno (1857–1911), Filipino politician, poet, and novelist; brother of Dolores Paterno