Fairbairn is a surname of Scottish origin which means "a handsome child." Notable people with the surname include:Andrew Fairbairn (disambiguation), several people Bill Fairbairn, Canadian ice hockey player Bruce Fairbairn (1949–1999), Canadian musician, songwriter and producer Carolyn Fairbairn, British business and television executive Charles Fairbairn, Canadian politician, member for Victoria South (1890–1896) David Fairbairn (politician) (1917–1994), Australian politician and cabinet minister David Fairbairn (artist), Australian painter and printmaker Douglas Fairbairn, co-developer of the Xerox NoteTaker, one of the first portable computers George Fairbairn (disambiguation), several people Ian Fairbairn (rower) (1896–1968), British financier and rower Ian 'Walter' Fairbairn, English folk musician Irene Fairbairn (1899–1974), Australian Girl Guides’ leader Ivo Fairbairn-Crawford, British athlete who competed in 1908 Olympics. James Fairbairn (1897–1940), Australian politician, Minister for Air and Civil Aviation, killed in the Canberra air disaster, 1940 John Fairbairn (disambiguation), several people Joyce Fairbairn (1939–2022), Canadian senator and cabinet minister Kaʻimi Fairbairn, American football player Nicholas Fairbairn (1933–1995), British politician Patrick Fairbairn (1805–1874), Scottish theologian Peter Fairbairn (1799–1861), Scottish engineer Rhea Fairbairn (1890–1953), Canadian amateur tennis player Richard Robert Fairbairn (1867–1941), British politician Robert Fairbairn (1910–1988), Scottish banker and cricketer Robert Edis Fairbairn (1879–1953), Canadian pacifist Ronald Fairbairn, British psychoanalyst, father of Nicholas Fairbairn Steve Fairbairn (1862–1938), Australian-born rowing coach active in Cambridge and London Sydney Fairbairn MC (1892–1943), English cricketer and British Army officer Thomas Fairbairn, 2nd Baronet (1823–1891), English industrialist and art collector Thomas McCulloch Fairbairn (politician) (1840–1874), Canadian politician Thomas McCulloch Fairbairn (1840-1874), Canadian lawyer and politician William Fairbairn, Scottish engineer William E. Fairbairn (1885–1960), British soldier, police officer, and WWII commando trainer