Pickens is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:
- Andrew Pickens (congressman) (1739âÂÂ1817), American soldier and politician; US Representative from South Carolina
- Andrew Pickens (governor) (1779âÂÂ1838), American soldier, lawyer, planter, and politician; governor of South Carolina; son of Andrew Pickens (congressman)
- Buster Pickens (1916âÂÂ1964), American blues pianist
- Carl Pickens (born 1970), American football player
- Claude Pickens (1900âÂÂ1985),American missionary and photographer in China
- Ezekiel Pickens (1768âÂÂ1813), American politician; lieutenant governor of South Carolina
- Francis Wilkinson Pickens (1805âÂÂ1869), American politician; governor of South Carolina
- George Pickens (born 2001), American football player
- Israel Pickens (1780âÂÂ1827) American politician; governor of Alabama
- James Pickens, Jr. (born 1954), American actor
- Karlyn Pickens (born 2004), American softball player
- Slim Pickens (1919âÂÂ1983), American actor and cowboy
- T. Boone Pickens, Jr. (1928âÂÂ2019), American businessman and philanthropist
- J. P. Pickens (1937âÂÂ1973), American musician, poet, and artist
- William Pickens (1881âÂÂ1954), African-American orator, educator, journalist, and essayist
- Willie Pickens (1931âÂÂ2017), American musician
- Zacch Pickens (born 2000), American football player