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 Hampton (Vic.) were English, Australian and Irish.

Section overview

Ancestry - Ranked by size

Hampton (Vic.) - Total persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises ancestry for Hampton (Vic.) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Bayside (C) and change since 2016.

Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Hampton (Vic.), with comparison markers for Bayside (C).

Hampton (Vic.)
Bayside (C)

English

2021 count

5,508

% of total

40.7%

Change from 2016

+1.2pp

Australian

2021 count

4,016

% of total

29.7%

Change from 2016

-1.2pp

Irish

2021 count

1,825

% of total

13.5%

Change from 2016

-1.0pp

Scottish

2021 count

1,640

% of total

12.1%

Change from 2016

+0.8pp

Italian

2021 count

849

% of total

6.3%

Change from 2016

+0.7pp

German

2021 count

595

% of total

4.4%

Change from 2016

+0.5pp

Greek

2021 count

496

% of total

3.7%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

Chinese

2021 count

489

% of total

3.6%

Change from 2016

+1.0pp

Dutch

2021 count

246

% of total

1.8%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Polish

2021 count

203

% of total

1.5%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Data table

Ancestry for Hampton (Vic.). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Bayside (C).

Ancestry for Hampton (Vic.). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Bayside (C).
Ancestry for Hampton (Vic.). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Bayside (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Bayside (C)%Count%Bayside (C)%Countpp
English5,50840.7%38.0%5,18139.5%38.0%+327+1.2pp
Australian4,01629.7%29.6%4,04730.9%29.9%-31-1.2pp
Irish1,82513.5%13.2%1,90614.5%13.6%-81-1.0pp
Scottish1,64012.1%11.4%1,48311.3%11.4%+157+0.8pp
Italian8496.3%5.6%7335.6%5.2%+116+0.7pp
German5954.4%4.3%5123.9%4.2%+83+0.5pp
Greek4963.7%4.1%4383.3%3.8%+58+0.4pp
Chinese4893.6%4.7%3472.6%3.7%+142+1.0pp
Dutch2461.8%1.7%2241.7%1.6%+22+0.1pp
Polish2031.5%1.9%1911.5%1.8%+120.0pp

Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).