proprietor

noun

Etymology: Probably from proprietary + -or.

1. An owner.

   “Here the proprietor has had the good sense of holding on to the good old fashion of giving his customers their moneyworth of good wines and liquors.”

   “The [Washington] Post's proprietor through those turbulent [Watergate] days, Katharine Graham, held a double place in Washington’s hierarchy: at once regal Georgetown hostess and scrappy newshound, ready to hold the establishment to account. That is a very American position. British journalists shun complete respectability, feeling a duty to be ready to savage the mighty, or rummage through their bins.”

2. A sole owner of an unincorporated business, also called a sole proprietor.
3. One of the owners of an unincorporated business, a partner.
4. One or more persons to whom a colonial territory is assigned, like a fief, including its administration.

   “From 10 September 1621 till 12 June 1632, Sir William Alexander, styled Earl of Stirling and Viscount of Canada, was proprietor of the Scottish colony Nova Scotia.”