Köbes

Ultimately from Latin Jacobus. Cognate to English Jacob, James, German Jakob. A common story explaining the second meaning is that it refers to pilgrims returning from travels to the grave of Saint Jacob, however it is more likely that it originally referred to a certain person who has been forgotten over time.

• IPA^(key): [ˈkøː²bəs]
• Hyphenation: Kö‧bes

Köbes m

1. Nickname for Jakob.
2. A server in a traditional pub in the Rhineland region of Germany.

   Dä Köbes mät jän ene Wetz, es mänchmol jet spetz, doch immer alät, un es et och spät. (cited by Adam Wrede in his dictionary with no credit given, likely a well-known folksy description of the job.)

Köbes as a name is rare, due to the widespread use as a job title; instead the un-umlauted form Kobes is more common.

• Wikipedia article for Köbes (in German)