Collocations for ancestor - noun

direct
The builder of the house was a direct ancestor of the present owner.

immediate
ancient, distant, early, remote
a distant ancestor of mine
Our earliest ancestors lived in a world fraught with danger.

common
The two species share a common ancestor.

ape-like, human
illustrious
The Romans built these monuments to glorify their illustrious ancestors.

literary, spiritual, etc. (figurative)
He claims as his literary ancestors such giants as Henry James and William Faulkner.

be descended from, have, share
A lot of the people there are descended from a common ancestor.

trace (esp. BrE)
He can trace his ancestors back to the reign of Elizabeth I.

honour/honor
They honour/honor their ancestors and believe in the spirits of nature.