Progenitor

Noun

 * 1) A forefather, any of a person's direct ancestors
 * 2) An individual from whom one or more people (dyansty, tribe, nation...) are descended.
 * 3)  An ancestral form of a species
 * 4)  A predecessor of something, especially if also a precursor or model.
 * 5)  Someone who originates something.
 * 6) A founder

Derived terms

 * legendary progenitor

Related terms

 * progeny

Thesaurus
ancestor, ancestors, ancestress, antecedent, antecedents, archetype, ascendant, ascendants, begetter, elders, fathers, forebear, forebears, forefather, forefathers, foregoer, forerunner, grandfathers, grandparent, grandparents, guide, origin, original, originator, parent, patriarchs, pattern, precursor, predecessor, predecessors, primogenitor, procreator, progenitors, progenitress, progenitrix, prototype, source