Tafel Family History

German:: from Middle High German tafel ‘table gameboard’ or ‘panel painting’ a metonymic occupational name for a maker of wooden panels (for tables carvings paintings or room paneling) or a topographic name for someone who lived by a roadside shrine or other religious motif; such depictions were (and still are common) in Bavaria and Austria.

In some instances this may be a shortened form of Tafelmacher literally ‘panel maker’. In this sense the name is also established as a Polish surname.

topographic name from a field name from Middle High German tavel denoting a field in a slightly elevated location.