Yanofsky is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:Charles Yanofsky (1925–2018), leading American geneticist Daniel Yanofsky, OC, QC (1925–2000), Canada's first chess grandmaster Joel Yanofsky, Canadian novelist and literary columnist Nikki Yanofsky, Canadian jazz-pop singer-songwriter from Montreal, Quebec Saul Yanofsky or Saul Yanovsky (1864–1939), American Jewish anarchist and activist Zal Yanofsky or Zal Yanovsky (1944–2002), Canadian rock musician