The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Originator \O*rig"i*na`tor\, n.
   One who originates.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

originator
    n 1: someone who creates new things [syn: originator,
         conceiver, mastermind]

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

59 Moby Thesaurus words for "originator":
   agent, ancestors, apprentice, architect, artificer, artist, author,
   begetter, beginner, builder, catalyst, causer, conceiver,
   constructor, craftsman, creator, designer, deviser, discoverer,
   effector, engenderer, engineer, executor, executrix, father,
   founder, generator, grower, inaugurator, industrialist, initiator,
   inspirer, instigator, institutor, introducer, inventor, journeyman,
   maker, manufacturer, master, master craftsman, mother, mover,
   organizer, original, parent, past master, patriarch, planner,
   precursor, prime mover, primum mobile, producer, raiser, realizer,
   shaper, sire, smith, wright