An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Ganerbe

by Friedrich Kluge

Ganerbe, m., ‘joint-heir, co-proprietor,’ from MidHG. ganerbe (from ge-an-erbe), m., ‘next co-heir, especially a co-heir with the right of obtaining the property of his fellow-inheritors at their death,’ OHG. ganarbo, ‘co-heir’ (Goth. *gaána-arbja, m.). The prefix ga, representing Lat. con-, ‘together with,’ was current in OTeut. See Genoß, Geselle.