J. H. Cardinal Newman (a great reader of the Fathers) felt that the title was apostolic. It is used by Justin martyr, Irenaeus and Tertullian who use it in the biblical commentary on the Annunciation (which they compare with the tempataion of Eve).
The Greek Fathers accepted and developed the theme. Gregory Nyssa contrasted Mary's joy in childbirth, with Eve's sorrow and pain. Chrysostom focused on the saving aspect and said it succinctly "a virgin [Eve] had cast us out from paradise, through a virgin [Mary] we have found eternal life". Athanasius applies Gen. 3 to Mary, and calls her "Mother of the living".
Big books and articles have been written on the use of this title, which is ancient, universal (not only the Greek, but Latin and Syriac Fathers used it too), and currently revived (cf. Vat II).
Elias
