Ian Russell MBE (born 1947) is a British Folklorist, most noted for his research into singing traditions in the English Pennines. He took up the Directorship of the Elphinstone Institute at the University of Aberdeen on 1 September 1999 and was awarded a Personal Chair in 2011. His doctorate (1977) was based on the singing traditions of West Sheffield. In 2014 he relinquished the directorship, retired and was granted Emeritus status.