An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Ganerbe

by Friedrich Kluge

Ganerbe, masculine, ‘joint-heir, co-proprietor,’ from Middle High German ganerbe (from ge-an-erbe), masculine, ‘next co-heir, especially a co-heir with the right of obtaining the property of his fellow-inheritors at their death,’ Old High German ganarbo, ‘co-heir’ (Gothic *gaána-arbja, masculine). The prefix ga, representing Latin con-, ‘together with,’ was current in Old Teutonic. See Genoß, Geselle.