"an initiator, a creator, one who begins or originates (something)," 1818, agent noun in Latin form from originate.
Entries linking to originator
originate v.
1650s, "to trace the origin of;" also "to bring into existence, give rise or origin to," probably a back-formation from origination. Intransitive sense of "to arise, come into existence" is from 1775. Related: Originated; originating.