An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/führen

by Friedrich Kluge

führen, vb., ‘to carry, conduct, deal in, manage,’ from MidHG. vüeren, OHG. fuoren, ‘to put in motion, guide, lead’; a factitive of fahren (OHG. faran), like ModHG. leiten, a factitive of OHG. lîdan, ‘to go, drive’; comp. OSax. fôrian, Du. voeren, ‘to lead,’ OIc. fœra, ‘to bring.’ Goth. *fôrjan is wanting; AS. fêran means ‘to go, march.’ Hence the sense ‘to lead’ is essentially Ger.