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 Boyup Brook (S) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Boyup Brook (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Boyup Brook (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Boyup Brook (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
English
2021 count
881
% of total
48.0%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
881
48.0%
+0.3pp
Australian
2021 count
758
% of total
41.3%
Change from 2016
-2.1pp
758
41.3%
-2.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
161
% of total
8.8%
Change from 2016
-2.1pp
161
8.8%
-2.1pp
Irish
2021 count
123
% of total
6.7%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
123
6.7%
-1.3pp
German
2021 count
77
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
77
4.2%
+0.3pp
Italian
2021 count
62
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
62
3.4%
-0.7pp
Dutch
2021 count
30
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
30
1.6%
-0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
27
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-
27
1.5%
-
New Zealander
2021 count
27
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
27
1.5%
-0.3pp
Maori
2021 count
16
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
16
0.9%
+0.7pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+70
+0.3pp
Australian
+20
-2.1pp
Scottish
-25
-2.1pp
Irish
-13
-1.3pp
German
+10
+0.3pp
Italian
-7
-0.7pp
Dutch
-1
-0.2pp
New Zealander
-3
-0.3pp
Maori
+13
+0.7pp
Welsh
+6
+0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Boyup Brook (S). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | pp | |
| English | 881 | 48.0% | 40.0% | 811 | 47.7% | 39.4% | +70 | +0.3pp |
| Australian | 758 | 41.3% | 36.3% | 738 | 43.4% | 39.9% | +20 | -2.1pp |
| Scottish | 161 | 8.8% | 9.0% | 186 | 10.9% | 8.8% | -25 | -2.1pp |
| Irish | 123 | 6.7% | 8.6% | 136 | 8.0% | 8.7% | -13 | -1.3pp |
| German | 77 | 4.2% | 3.4% | 67 | 3.9% | 3.3% | +10 | +0.3pp |
| Italian | 62 | 3.4% | 3.8% | 69 | 4.1% | 3.6% | -7 | -0.7pp |
| Dutch | 30 | 1.6% | 1.9% | 31 | 1.8% | 1.8% | -1 | -0.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 27 | 1.5% | 7.8% | - | - | 3.1% | - | - |
| New Zealander | 27 | 1.5% | 1.1% | 30 | 1.8% | 1.3% | -3 | -0.3pp |
| Maori | 16 | 0.9% | 1.3% | 3 | 0.2% | 1.2% | +13 | +0.7pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).