- Old Mr. Harmon – The wealthy father of John Harmon, now deceased, who has made his fortune in the scrap and refuse collection trade (“the golden dustman”).
- John Harmon alias Julius Handford and John Rokesmith – The main character in the story, the son and heir of “Old Harmon” mistakenly reported drowned returning home to England.
- Nicodemus “Noddy” Boffin – A long time employee of Old Harmon, who with his wife inherits the the Harmon estate on the presumed death of his son and heir.
- Henerietta Boffin – A fashion conscious childless motherly soul, sensitive, kind and caring who informally adopts young Johnny and Bella Wilfer.
- Jesse “Gaffer” Hexam – A Thames waterman who recovers bodies from the river to earn a living.
- Lizzie Hexam – The loving daughter of Gaffer Hexam the caring self sacrificing, unappreciated mother figure of the family.
- Charley Hexam – The ambitious but rather selfish son of Gaffer Hexam who becomes a pupil at Headstone’s school encouraged and supported his sister.
- Bradley Headstone – Schoolmaster and tutor to Charley Hexam who falls in love with sister Lizzie, who is already under the influence of Wrayburn.
- Mortimer Lightwood – A lawyer moving in the higher strata of society with the Veneerings, the Podsnaps, Lady Tippins, Fledgeby, George Sampson and Twemlow.
- Eugene Wrayburn – A friend of Lightwood, moving in the same social circles, seemingly not a lazy, irresponsible and churlish barrister and rival to Headstone when he meets and becomes besotted with Lizzie Hexam after the death of her father.
- Roger “Rogue” Riderhood – A Thames waterman who accuses fellow worker Gaffer Hexam of murder.
- Pleasant Riderhood – Riderhood’s daughter, keeps a pawnbrokers shop and has a difficult relationship with her father.
- Silas Wegg – An opportunistic street trader who is teaching Mr. Boffin to read whilst seeking the opportunity to exploit the relationship.
- Mr. Venus – A taxidermist friend and fellow conspirator with Silas Wegg to take advantage of the Boffins.
- Reginald Wilfer (R.W.) – The head of the Wilfer family who takes in John Rokesmith as a lodger when he takes up employment as secretary to newly wealthy Mr Boffin. He has a heart of gold and spoils his favourite daughter Bella.
- Mrs. Wilfer – Reginald’s wife and mother of Bella and Lavinia, feeling slightly embittered having married beneath her family status and wants better for her offspring.
- Bella Wilfer – The intended wife of John Harmon, in accordance with old Harmon’s will. The Boffins took her in after John Harmon was apparently drowned.
- Lavinia Wilfer – The younger sister of Bella doesn’t have the likeable personality of Bella and tends to be a little mouthy and rebellious.
- Fanny Cleaver alias Jenny Wren – A disabled twelve or thirteen years old dolls dressmaker, wise beyond her years and quick witted with a sharp tongue. She befriends and takes in Lizzie Hexam after the death of her father.
- Mr. Cleaver – Jenny’s dependent and wasted alcoholic father whom she calls her “bad child”.
- Sophronia and Alfred Lammle – An untrustworthy young couple, newly married under false pretences each thinking the other rich. Socialites who take advantage of their position, match-making hopefully for profit.
- Mr and Mrs Veneering – Pretentious upper class socialites and party givers with friends in high places.
- Mr and Mrs John Podsnap – Upper middle class society snobs, the parents of Georgiana.
- Georgiana Podsnap – The shy naive and trusting daughter of Mr and Mrs Podsnap, befriended and taken advantage of by the Lammles and courted by Fledgeby.
- Mr Riah – An honourable, benevolent and kind Jewish gentleman who runs a money lending business (Pubsey and Co.) owned by the scoundrel Fledgeby, he offers a place of refuge to Lizzie Hexam when she is being pursued by two admirers.
- Mr (Fascination) Fledgeby – A friend of the Lammles dishonest and unscrupulous owner of a money lending business run by Mr Riah.
- Lady Tippins – An aristocratic and snobbish frequenter of the upper class gatherings hosted by the Veneerings.
- Lord Snigsworth – A distant relative of Twemlow in the elite social circle of the Veneerings and Podsnaps.
- The Inspector – An incompetent policeman involved in the the identification of a body found in the river and the investigation into his death.
- George Radfoot – A sailor who meets John Harmon on the ship on the way back to England and tries to steal his inheritance. Later, he is murdered, and his body is mistaken for Harmon’s when it is found in the water.
- Miss Abbey Potterson – The fearsome but warm hearted landlady of the Six Jolly Fellowship Porters inn who stands no nonsense from unruly patrons.
- Mrs Betty Higden – An ageing child-minder, who cares for orphans and poor children.
- Johnny – The orphan great-grandson of Betty Higden who it’s been agreed will be adopted by Mrs Boffin, but he is taken ill and dies in the children’s hospital before this happens.
- Sloppy – A loyal orphan young man with learning difficulties but is literate and an indispensable mangle turner who helps Betty looking after the children.
- George Sampson – An eligible young man from a wealthy and respectable family looking for a wife with an eye on the Wilfers.
- Reverend Frank and Mrs Milvey – Help the Boffins when they are looking for a child to adopt.
- Miss Peecher – A teacher at Headstone’s school who has unrequited love for her headmaster.
- Mary Anne – Miss Peecher’s star pupil and willing helper.