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 Emerton were English, Australian and Australian Aboriginal.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Emerton - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Emerton in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Blacktown (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Emerton, with comparison markers for Blacktown (C).
English
2021 count
549
% of total
12.1%
Change from 2016
-9.4pp
549
12.1%
-9.4pp
Australian
2021 count
483
% of total
10.6%
Change from 2016
-16.1pp
483
10.6%
-16.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
197
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
-
197
4.3%
-
Samoan
2021 count
168
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
-
168
3.7%
-
Filipino
2021 count
152
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
-
152
3.3%
-
Irish
2021 count
128
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
-5.3pp
128
2.8%
-5.3pp
Cook Islander
2021 count
122
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
-
122
2.7%
-
Tongan
2021 count
85
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-
85
1.9%
-
Scottish
2021 count
59
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-3.4pp
59
1.3%
-3.4pp
Maori
2021 count
46
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-
46
1.0%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+475
-9.4pp
Australian
+391
-16.1pp
Irish
+100
-5.3pp
Scottish
+43
-3.4pp
German
+32
-2.0pp
Italian
+39
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Emerton. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Blacktown (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Blacktown (C)% | Count | % | Blacktown (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 549 | 12.1% | 8.4% | 74 | 21.5% | 10.3% | +475 | -9.4pp |
| Australian | 483 | 10.6% | 9.5% | 92 | 26.7% | 11.4% | +391 | -16.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 197 | 4.3% | 1.4% | - | - | 0.2% | - | - |
| Samoan | 168 | 3.7% | 0.9% | - | - | 0.9% | - | - |
| Filipino | 152 | 3.3% | 4.5% | - | - | 4.4% | - | - |
| Irish | 128 | 2.8% | 2.1% | 28 | 8.1% | 2.8% | +100 | -5.3pp |
| Cook Islander | 122 | 2.7% | 0.2% | - | - | 0.2% | - | - |
| Tongan | 85 | 1.9% | 0.6% | - | - | 0.5% | - | - |
| Scottish | 59 | 1.3% | 1.8% | 16 | 4.7% | 2.2% | +43 | -3.4pp |
| Maori | 46 | 1.0% | 0.5% | - | - | 0.5% | - | - |
| Total | 4,544 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 344 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +4,200 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).