Forebear (noun)

An ancestor, especially a distant one.

Origin:

Middle english: from old english forebe(a)ra "forefather", from fore- "before" + be(o)ra "begetter, father".

Examples:

1. He is proud of his forebears who were brave warriors.
2. She traced her forebears to the early settlers of the region.
3. The forebears of the royal family were once powerful rulers.
4. The forebears of the family were farmers.
5. The forebears of the company were successful entrepreneurs.