progenitor

noun

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

   “Abraham, alias Ibrahim, is the presumed progenitor of both the Jewish and Arab peoples.”

3. An ancestral form of a species.
4. (figuratively)A predecessor of something, especially if also a precursor or model.

   “ARPANET was the progenitor of the Internet.”

   “Are neural progenitor cells infected by Zika virus?”

5. (figuratively)Someone who originates something.
6. A founder.