stach

Stach is a name of Polish origin that can function as both a surname and a given name. In Polish practice, Stach is commonly a diminutive or affectionate form of Stanisław, and over time it has also become established as a standalone surname in its own right. The pronunciation in Polish is roughly "stahkh," with the ch representing a velar fricative.

As a surname, Stach often represents a patronymic or nickname-derived lineage. It is found among Polish-speaking populations and in diaspora communities around the world, where it has been preserved in its original form or carried into new linguistic contexts through immigration. The surname can be seen in various records from Central and Eastern Europe to North America and Western Europe, reflecting patterns of migration and cultural transmission.

As a given name, Stach is less common today but may appear in informal usage within Polish-speaking communities as a familiar form of Stanisław or as a personal name in its own right in historical contexts. In some cases, it has historically functioned as a nickname that later became established as a separate name.

Related names and variants commonly appear in linguistic and genealogical references, including longer Polish surnames such as Stachowiak and Stachowski, which indicate lineage or descent from an ancestor associated with the name Stach.

See also: Stachowiak, Stachowski.