Szostak

Szostak is a Polish surname. It is derived from the Polish word szóstak or szóstka, referring to the number six, and is part of a common pattern in Polish surnames that use the -ak suffix to form a nickname-based or descriptive family name. Historically, such names could have described a person who was the sixth child, a person associated with the number six, or someone who held a nickname that was later inherited as a surname. The name is most prevalent in Poland, particularly in areas with historical Polish populations, and it has spread abroad through emigration. In the modern era, individuals with the surname Szostak have appeared in diverse fields such as academia, culture, sports, and business, reflecting the dispersal of Polish communities around the world.