Cultural diversity
Ancestry
About this topic
Ancestry describes a person's cultural association and ethnic background, and Census respondents can report more than one ancestry. It is a broader cultural measure than country of birth because it can reflect family heritage across generations.
This topic helps show the size and diversity of cultural groups in an area, including groups whose members were born in Australia. Because multiple ancestries can be reported, ancestry totals can exceed the total population, so it is best read with birthplace, language used at home, and religion.
Interpretation notes
- People can report up to two ancestries, so category totals represent responses rather than a single unduplicated person count.
- ABS advises that ancestry is best used with birthplace and language, because ancestry alone is a broad measure of ethnicity and cultural background.
- The 2021 form added separate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mark boxes, so those categories need caution in over-time comparison.
Key insight
In 2021, the largest ancestry groups among residents in Meerschaum Vale were Australian, English and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Meerschaum Vale - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Meerschaum Vale in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Ballina (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Meerschaum Vale, with comparison markers for Ballina (A).
Australian
2021 count
178
% of total
47.8%
Change from 2016
+3.0pp
178
47.8%
+3.0pp
English
2021 count
176
% of total
47.3%
Change from 2016
+6.7pp
176
47.3%
+6.7pp
Irish
2021 count
78
% of total
21.0%
Change from 2016
+4.4pp
78
21.0%
+4.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
33
% of total
8.9%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
33
8.9%
-1.2pp
German
2021 count
18
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
18
4.8%
+1.3pp
Italian
2021 count
18
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
18
4.8%
+1.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
10
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
10
2.7%
+1.4pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
0
+3.0pp
English
+15
+6.7pp
Irish
+12
+4.4pp
Scottish
-7
-1.2pp
German
+4
+1.3pp
Italian
+4
+1.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
+5
+1.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for Meerschaum Vale. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Ballina (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Ballina (A)% | Count | % | Ballina (A)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 178 | 47.8% | 39.3% | 178 | 44.8% | 40.1% | 0 | +3.0pp |
| English | 176 | 47.3% | 44.4% | 161 | 40.6% | 43.9% | +15 | +6.7pp |
| Irish | 78 | 21.0% | 14.4% | 66 | 16.6% | 14.6% | +12 | +4.4pp |
| Scottish | 33 | 8.9% | 12.6% | 40 | 10.1% | 12.1% | -7 | -1.2pp |
| German | 18 | 4.8% | 4.6% | 14 | 3.5% | 4.4% | +4 | +1.3pp |
| Italian | 18 | 4.8% | 3.3% | 14 | 3.5% | 2.9% | +4 | +1.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 10 | 2.7% | 3.7% | 5 | 1.3% | 0.6% | +5 | +1.4pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).