Abstract: An alkyd surfactant which is effective in emulsifying alkyd resins is formed by copolymerization of at least one monomer having a hydrophilic group, at least one ethylenically unsaturated fatty acid or ester, and optionally, at least one polyol, and has a low degree of branching. Stable alkyd emulsions are formed by emulsification of alkyd resins with the alkyd surfactant. Since the alkyd surfactant has ethylenically unsaturated hydrophobe groups which can react with the alkyd resin during curing, the alkyd surfactant is not subject to migration, blooming or leaching from cured coatings.