Are you gang with your gang?

I am not sure how long the word "gang" has been circulating with the negative connotations it has today, but I do know that in the early-mid 20th century, "gang" referred to the group that one went around with, regardless of one's intentions. I am wondering if the word "gang" has roots in the German "gehen," and if so, how did the word make its way into our vernacular as is?