Explore the Family Name Tafel
The meaning of Tafel
German: 1. 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. 2. topographic name from a field name, from Middle High German tavel, denoting a field in a slightly elevated location. Some characteristic forenames: German Dieter, Heinz, Kurt.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Tafel in the United States?
Based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Tafel saw a slight decrease in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Tafel was ranked as the 49,671st most popular surname, but by 2010 it had slipped to 52,037th place, marking a -4.76% change. Despite this drop in rank, the actual count of individuals with the Tafel surname increased slightly from 397 in 2000 to 399 in 2010 — an increase of 0.5%. However, when measured per 100,000 people, the proportion of individuals with the Tafel surname decreased by -6.67%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #49,671 | #52,037 | -4.76% |
| Count | 397 | 399 | 0.5% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.15 | 0.14 | -6.67% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Tafel
Turning to ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data indicates shifts in the ethnic identity associated with the Tafel surname from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, 94.46% identified as White, which slightly fell to 93.73% in 2010. The Hispanic representation saw an increase, going from 2.52% in 2000 to 3.51% in 2010, reflecting a 39.29% change. Meanwhile, those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander went from 0% to 1.75%. However, the percentage of individuals with the Tafel surname identifying with two or more races dropped from 2.52% to 0%. There were no Tafels recorded as Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 94.46% | 93.73% | -0.77% |
| Hispanic | 2.52% | 3.51% | 39.29% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 1.75% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 2.52% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |