Progenitor

(n.) An ancestor in the direct line; a forefather; a founder.

Thesaurus Entries

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