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 Briar Hill were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Briar Hill - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Briar Hill in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Banyule (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Briar Hill, with comparison markers for Banyule (C).
English
2021 count
1,257
% of total
19.6%
Change from 2016
+3.1pp
1,257
19.6%
+3.1pp
Australian
2021 count
1,146
% of total
17.8%
Change from 2016
-8.8pp
1,146
17.8%
-8.8pp
Irish
2021 count
520
% of total
8.1%
Change from 2016
+4.5pp
520
8.1%
+4.5pp
Scottish
2021 count
375
% of total
5.8%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
375
5.8%
+0.8pp
Italian
2021 count
267
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
-
267
4.2%
-
German
2021 count
148
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
-
148
2.3%
-
Greek
2021 count
91
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-
91
1.4%
-
Chinese
2021 count
78
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-
78
1.2%
-
Dutch
2021 count
56
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
-
56
0.9%
-
Maltese
2021 count
38
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
38
0.6%
-1.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+1,211
+3.1pp
Australian
+1,072
-8.8pp
Irish
+510
+4.5pp
Scottish
+361
+0.8pp
Maltese
+33
-1.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Briar Hill. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Banyule (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Banyule (C)% | Count | % | Banyule (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 1,257 | 19.6% | 15.7% | 46 | 16.5% | 15.8% | +1,211 | +3.1pp |
| Australian | 1,146 | 17.8% | 14.6% | 74 | 26.6% | 14.5% | +1,072 | -8.8pp |
| Irish | 520 | 8.1% | 6.1% | 10 | 3.6% | 6.6% | +510 | +4.5pp |
| Scottish | 375 | 5.8% | 4.8% | 14 | 5.0% | 4.7% | +361 | +0.8pp |
| Italian | 267 | 4.2% | 5.3% | - | - | 5.0% | - | - |
| German | 148 | 2.3% | 1.7% | - | - | 1.7% | - | - |
| Greek | 91 | 1.4% | 2.1% | - | - | 1.9% | - | - |
| Chinese | 78 | 1.2% | 3.5% | - | - | 3.0% | - | - |
| Dutch | 56 | 0.9% | 0.7% | - | - | 0.6% | - | - |
| Maltese | 38 | 0.6% | 0.5% | 5 | 1.8% | 0.5% | +33 | -1.2pp |
| Total | 6,428 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 278 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +6,150 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).