This is a alphabetical list of any individuals, legendary or real, who are purported by traditions to have invented alphabets or other writing systems, whether this is proven or not.
- Adrien-Gabriel Morice - French, developed Carrier syllabary c. 1885.
- Afáka Atumisi - Surinamian, invented Afaka script in 1908.
- Alexandre de Rhodes - French missionary, developed Vietnamese alphabet c. 1624, adapting the Roman alphabet
- Alexander Melville Bell - American teacher, invented Visible Speech in 1867
- Ali Moslehi Moslehabadi - Iranian comparative linguist, developed IPA2, also known as Pársik in 2004.
- Anton Bezenšek - Slovenian linguist, developed Bezenšek Shorthand c. 1879
- Aulay Macaulay - English tea-dealer, who invented Polygraphy, a system of shorthand in 1747.
- J. R. R. Tolkien - British author, invented the Tengwar and Sarati c. 1930.
- James Evans - Canadian missionary, invented a syllbary used for Ojibwe and Cree c. 1840, these days referred to as Cree syllabics.
- James Hill - British, developed Teeline Shorthand in 1970.
- James O. Fraser - Scottish missionary, invented Fraser alphabet c. 1915.
- Jeremiah Rich - English, invented a system of shorthand in 1654.
- J.M.R. LeJeune - Canadian, created Chinook writing, 1893, an adaptation and expansion of Duployan.
- Johannes Pantheus - German author, invented Enochian alphabet in 1478.
- Johannes Trithemius - German cryptographer, invented an "Angelic" (magical) alphabet in 1499.
- John Byrom - British poet, invented a system of shorthand c. 1715.
- John Dee - English alchemist, invented another Enochian alphabet ca. 1582.
- John R. Malone - American, developed the UNIFON alphabet ca. 1955.
- John Robert Gregg - Irish author, invented Gregg Shorthand c. 1888.
- John William Tims - American, developed Blackfoot syllabary c. 1890.
- John Willis - English, invented a system of shorthand in 1602.
- Mangei Gomango - Indian, invented Sorang Sompeng script in 1936.
- Marcus Tullius Tiro - Roman secretary, ascribed invention of Tironian notes shorthand c. 63 BC, according to tradition.
- Moubao Azong - Tibetan king, ascribed invention of Dongba script, c. 1250 (?), according to tradition.
- Muḥammad ibn Mūsā al-Khwārizmī was born in Central Asia (c.778 - c.850) created the notations of: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0.
- Nurhaci (king), or possibly his translators Erdeni and Gagai ? - Manchurians, created Manchu alphabet in 1599.
- Saint Clement of Ohrid - Archbishop, ascribed invention of Cyrillic c. 900, according to tradition.
- Saint Mesrob - Armenian monk, created the Armenian alphabet in c. 405.
- Saint Cyril - Greek monk, believed to have created Glagolitic alphabet c. 863.
- Saint Shahjalal - Bengali, ascribed invention of Syloti Nagri alphabet c. 1300, according to tradition.
- Sam Pollard - British missionary, invented Pollard script in 1905.
- Samuel F. B. Morse - American inventor, invented Morse code c. 1835.
- Samuel Taylor - American, invented Universal Stenography system of shorthand in 1792.
- Saraswati - Indian goddess, created devanagari alphabet.
- Sejong the Great of Joseon - Korean king, invented Hangul writing in c. 1443, promulgated in 1446.
- Sequoyah, Cherokee silversmith, invented Cherokee syllabary c. 1819.
- Sheikh Abdurahman Sheikh Nuur - Somali, invented Borama script c. 1933.
- Shong Lue Yang - Laotian, created Pahawh Hmong alphabet in 1959.
- Sirijonga - Nepalese king, ascribed invention of Limbu alphabet c. 880, according to tradition.
- Stephen of Perm - Russian missionary, invented the Old Permic script alphabet in 1372.
- Sol Chong - inventor of the Korean Idu script and Gugyeol script (c.650 - c.730), according to tradition.
- Solomana Kante - Guinean author, invented the N'Ko alphabet in 1949.
- Tenevil - Chukchi reindeer herder, developed a writing system for Chukchi language c. 1931.
- Thikúng Men Salóng - Bhutanese scholar, invented Lepcha script some time around 1700.
- Thomas Harriot - English mathematician, invented phonetic alphabet for transcribing Carolina Algonquian language in 1584.
- Thomas More - English author, invented Utopian alphabet in 1516.
- Thomas Shelton - English translator, developed Short Writing, an early shorthand, in 1626.
- Thonmi Sambhota - legendary Tibetan scribe, ascribed invention of Tibetan script c. 650, according to tradition.
- Thoth - mythical Egyptian deity, ascribed invention of Egyptian hieroglyphics c. 3000 BC (?) according to tradition.
- Timothy Bright - English, invented Characterie shorthand in 1588.
- Tony Koyu - from Arunachal Pradesh invented Tani Lipi a scientific script of Arunachal Pradesh in 2001.
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| Numerals |
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