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 Ranford were Australian, English and Scottish.

Section overview

Ancestry - Ranked by size

Ranford - Total persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises ancestry for Ranford in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Boddington (S) and change since 2016.

Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Ranford, with comparison markers for Boddington (S).

Ranford
Boddington (S)

Australian

2021 count

93

% of total

46.3%

Change from 2016

+5.2pp

English

2021 count

72

% of total

35.8%

Change from 2016

-4.8pp

Scottish

2021 count

27

% of total

13.4%

Change from 2016

+1.2pp

Irish

2021 count

19

% of total

9.5%

Change from 2016

-1.1pp

Australian Aboriginal

2021 count

10

% of total

5.0%

Change from 2016

-

Data table

Ancestry for Ranford. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Boddington (S).

Ancestry for Ranford. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Boddington (S).
Ancestry for Ranford. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Boddington (S).
Category20212016Change
Count%Boddington (S)%Count%Boddington (S)%Countpp
Australian9346.3%39.3%7441.1%42.5%+19+5.2pp
English7235.8%47.7%7340.6%41.4%-1-4.8pp
Scottish2713.4%11.0%2212.2%9.5%+5+1.2pp
Irish199.5%8.6%1910.6%7.3%0-1.1pp
Australian Aboriginal105.0%3.2%--0.7%--

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