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 Beaumaris (Vic.) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Beaumaris (Vic.) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Beaumaris (Vic.) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Bayside (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Beaumaris (Vic.), with comparison markers for Bayside (C).
English
2021 count
5,940
% of total
42.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
5,940
42.6%
0.0pp
Australian
2021 count
4,601
% of total
33.0%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
4,601
33.0%
+1.2pp
Irish
2021 count
1,963
% of total
14.1%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
1,963
14.1%
-0.5pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,702
% of total
12.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
1,702
12.2%
-0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
678
% of total
4.9%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
678
4.9%
+0.3pp
German
2021 count
643
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
643
4.6%
-0.2pp
Greek
2021 count
568
% of total
4.1%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
568
4.1%
+0.6pp
Chinese
2021 count
411
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
411
2.9%
+0.6pp
Dutch
2021 count
291
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
291
2.1%
+0.3pp
South African
2021 count
183
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
183
1.3%
+0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+222
0.0pp
Australian
+333
+1.2pp
Irish
+5
-0.5pp
Scottish
+51
-0.1pp
Italian
+58
+0.3pp
German
-4
-0.2pp
Greek
+100
+0.6pp
Chinese
+103
+0.6pp
Dutch
+48
+0.3pp
South African
+44
+0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Beaumaris (Vic.). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Bayside (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Bayside (C)% | Count | % | Bayside (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 5,940 | 42.6% | 38.0% | 5,718 | 42.6% | 38.0% | +222 | 0.0pp |
| Australian | 4,601 | 33.0% | 29.6% | 4,268 | 31.8% | 29.9% | +333 | +1.2pp |
| Irish | 1,963 | 14.1% | 13.2% | 1,958 | 14.6% | 13.6% | +5 | -0.5pp |
| Scottish | 1,702 | 12.2% | 11.4% | 1,651 | 12.3% | 11.4% | +51 | -0.1pp |
| Italian | 678 | 4.9% | 5.6% | 620 | 4.6% | 5.2% | +58 | +0.3pp |
| German | 643 | 4.6% | 4.3% | 647 | 4.8% | 4.2% | -4 | -0.2pp |
| Greek | 568 | 4.1% | 4.1% | 468 | 3.5% | 3.8% | +100 | +0.6pp |
| Chinese | 411 | 2.9% | 4.7% | 308 | 2.3% | 3.7% | +103 | +0.6pp |
| Dutch | 291 | 2.1% | 1.7% | 243 | 1.8% | 1.6% | +48 | +0.3pp |
| South African | 183 | 1.3% | 1.1% | 139 | 1.0% | 0.9% | +44 | +0.3pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).