Ginsberg

Ginsberg is a surname of Ashkenazi Jewish origin, a variant spelling of related names such as Ginsburg. The name has appeared in various contexts, including literature, academia, and the arts.

Allen Ginsberg (1926–1997) was an American poet and a central figure of the Beat Generation. Born in Newark, New Jersey, he studied at Columbia University and became a leading voice in postwar American poetry. His collection Howl and Other Poems (1956) is considered a defining work of Beat literature, notable for its expansive, lyrical free verse and candid treatment of sexuality, spirituality, and social critique. The book’s publication led to a landmark obscenity trial in 1957, which helped redefine American publishing freedoms. Other major works include Kaddish (1961), a long, elegiac poem devoted to his mother, and The Fall of America (poems from the mid-1960s to early 1970s). Ginsberg’s poetry is marked by long lines, improvisational cadence, and a blend of personal voice with political and social commentary. He was openly gay and supported civil rights, anti-war activism, and countercultural movements, influencing later poets and artists who bridged literary and political engagement. He remained active as a writer, lecturer, and translator into his later years.

Beyond Allen Ginsberg, the surname can refer to other individuals in arts, academia, and public life. Variant spellings include Ginsburg and other close forms. In cultural contexts, Ginsberg is sometimes used to denote mid-20th-century American counterculture, chiefly through the association with Allen Ginsberg.