Ron Paul was the origin. It was quickly co-opted by others.
Ron Paul does indeed take credit for starting the Tea Party Movement.
In fact it was Santalli who got the ball rolling with this
“rant” on CNBC
CNBC’s Rick Santelli’s Chicago Tea Party
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp-Jw-5Kx8k
There were about 50 or so tea parties around the country a week or so later, one in Sacramento put on by FreeRepublic.com
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2192573/posts
Which was the inspiration for the Tea Party Express.
The TPM really got legs after this Tea Party rally in Sacto.