FOREFATHER
forefather, father, sire
(noun) the founder of a family; “keep the faith of our forefathers”
forefather
(noun) person from an earlier time who contributed to the tradition shared by some group; “our forefathers brought forth a great nation”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
forefather (plural forefathers)
Ancestor.Wp
Cultural ancestor; one who originated an idea or tradition.
Source: Wiktionary
Fore"fa`ther, n.
Definition: One who precedes another in the line of genealogy in any
degree, but usually in a remote degree; an ancestor.
Respecting your forefathers, you would have been taught to respect
yourselves. Burke.
Forefathers' Day, the anniversary of the day (December 21) on which
the Pilgrim Fathers landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts (1620). On
account of a mistake in reckoning the change from Old Style to New
Style, it has generally been celebrated on the 22d.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition