Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun forefather

2 senses of forefather

Sense 1
forefather, father, sire -- (the founder of a family; "keep the faith of our forefathers")
       => ancestor, ascendant, ascendent, antecedent, root -- (someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent))

Sense 2
forefather -- (person from an earlier time who contributed to the tradition shared by some group; "our forefathers brought forth a great nation")
       => predecessor -- (one who precedes you in time (as in holding a position or office))