The name is derived from the Polish given name Stanek (a hypocoristic form of such Old Polish names as Stanisław or Stanimir, or derived from the Old Polish common noun stanek meaning ‘snares for catching animals; an army camp', in dialects also ‘abode, tent') with the patronymic suffix -'ewicz, and refers to the connection with the father or another ancestor by that name. Variant: Stankowicz.