Adolf Friedrich, Graf von Schack was a German poet, historian of literature, and art collector.

Adolf Glassbrenner was a German humorist and satirist, considered part of the Young Germany Movement.

Adolf Hepner was a German-American writer. His association with the SPD led to him being a co-defendant in the Leipzig high treason trial. He was a journalist for papers in both Germany and in the United States.

Adolf Heyduk was a distinguished Czech poet and writer, a representative of the May School.

Adolf Holl was an Austrian Catholic writer and theologian. He lived in Vienna, where he was Chaplain of the University of Vienna and a lecturer in its Department of Catholic Theology. Because of conflicts with Church authorities, he was suspended from his teaching and priestly duties. He wrote many books, including Jesus in Bad Company and The Last Christian: A Biography of Francis of Assisi.

Adolf Holm was a German historian of antiquity.

Adolf Holtzmann was a German professor and philologist. His name is associated with a Proto-Germanic sound law known as Holtzmann's Law.

Adolf Ivar Arwidsson was a Finnish political journalist, writer and historian. His writing was critical of Finland's status at the time as a Grand Duchy under the Russian Tsars. Its sharpness cost him his job as a lecturer at The Royal Academy of Turku and he had to emigrate to Sweden, where he continued his political activity. The Finnish national movement considered Arwidsson the mastermind of an independent Finland.

Adolf Jellinek was an Austrian rabbi and scholar. After filling clerical posts in Leipzig (1845–1856), he became a preacher at the Leopoldstädter Tempel in Vienna in 1856.

Adolf Kiessling was a German philologist born in Culm. He was a specialist in the field of Roman literature.