progenitor

noun

• A forefather, any of a person's direct ancestors.
• An individual from whom one or more people (dynasty, tribe, nation...) are descended.

  "Abraham alias Ibrahim is the progenitor of both the Jewish and Arab peoples."

• An ancestral form of a species.
• A predecessor of something, especially if also a precursor or model.

  "ARPANET was the progenitor of the Internet."

• Someone who originates something.
• A founder.