The name of the village stems from the contraction of the Althochdeutsche word Ger (throwing spear, because the village had originally the appearance of a spear) and Brunn (source, after the water source that is still flowing today near the city hall).

[citation needed] An alternative theory states that the "Ger" comes from the traditional local dish "Gerstrauß".

In the Peace of Preßburg (1805) archduke Ferdinand von Toskana made it a part of the Grand Duchy of Würzburg.

In the wake of administration reformation in Bayern, the current community was formed with the municipal edict of 1818.

The coat of arms also functions as the logo of local sports club TSV Gerbrunn.