McDaniel is a surname. It may refer to the following people:

• Barry McDaniel (1930–2018), American operatic baritone
• Chris McDaniel (born 1972), American attorney and politician
• Clara McDaniel (born 1948), American blues singer and songwriter
• Clint McDaniel (born 1972), American basketball player
• David McDaniel (1939–1977), American science fiction writer
• Ellas McDaniel (1928–2008), better known by the stage name Bo Diddley, American guitarist and singer
• Etta McDaniel (1890–1946), American actress, sister of Hattie and Sam McDaniel
• George A. McDaniel (1885–1944), American actor and singer
• Hattie McDaniel (1895–1952), American actress, first African-American Oscar winner, sister of Etta and Sam McDaniel
• Henry Dickerson McDaniel (1836–1926), American politician
• Jacobbi McDaniel (born 1989), American football player
• James McDaniel (born 1958), American actor
• Jeffrey McDaniel (born 1967), American poet
• Lindy McDaniel (1935–2020), American baseball player
• Lurlene McDaniel (born 1944), American author
• Matthew McDaniel (20th/21st century), American human rights activist
• Mel McDaniel (1942–2011), American singer and music artist

• Michael McDaniel (professor), chair of the Council of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) from 2017 to 2019

• Michael A. McDaniel, American psychologist
• Mike McDaniel (born 1983), American football coach, head coach of the Miami Dolphins NFL team
• Mildred McDaniel (1933–2004), American athlete
• Orlando McDaniel (1960–2020), American football player
• Randall McDaniel (born 1964), American football player
• Ronna McDaniel (born 1973), American politician
• Sam McDaniel (1886–1962), American actor, brother of Etta and Hattie McDaniel
• Sam McDaniel (basketball) (born 1995), Australian basketball player
• Scott McDaniel (born 1965), American comics artist
• Terry McDaniel (born 1965), American football player
• Wahoo McDaniel, ring name of Edward McDaniel (1938–2002), American football player and professional wrestler
• William Roberts McDaniel (1861–1942), American academic
• Xavier McDaniel (born 1963), American basketball player

• McDaniels