William Norman Emerson (September 29, 1821 – June 2, 1891) was an American politician from New York.

[1][2] Emerson lived in Allegany County, New York, for a time before moving to Rochester in 1857.

He was elected to the New York State Senate, representing the 28th district, as a Republican with a plurality of 1,554 votes, defeating Alexander B. Lamberton (Democrat) and M. O. Randall (Populist).

[1][4] In 1877, he proposed legislation in the senate for any women with the same qualifications as a man to be elected to any office of school administration.

They had three children, Mary Johnson, Willard J. and Frank W.[2] Emerson died on June 2, 1891, in Knoxville, Tennessee.