progenitors

noun

1. A forefather, any of a person's direct ancestors.

2. 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.

3. An ancestral form of a species.

4. A predecessor of something, especially if also a precursor or model.

   ARPANET was the progenitor of the Internet.

5. Someone who originates something.

6. A founder.