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 Morningside were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Morningside - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Morningside in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Brisbane (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Morningside, with comparison markers for Brisbane (C).
English
2021 count
4,739
% of total
40.3%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
4,739
40.3%
+1.6pp
Australian
2021 count
3,702
% of total
31.5%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
3,702
31.5%
+0.7pp
Irish
2021 count
1,828
% of total
15.6%
Change from 2016
-2.0pp
1,828
15.6%
-2.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,346
% of total
11.5%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
1,346
11.5%
-0.6pp
German
2021 count
691
% of total
5.9%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
691
5.9%
-0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
502
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
502
4.3%
+0.7pp
Chinese
2021 count
289
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
289
2.5%
-0.2pp
Indian
2021 count
247
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
247
2.1%
-0.4pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
235
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
235
2.0%
+1.8pp
Dutch
2021 count
177
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
177
1.5%
-0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+647
+1.6pp
Australian
+447
+0.7pp
Irish
-38
-2.0pp
Scottish
+64
-0.6pp
German
+59
-0.1pp
Italian
+117
+0.7pp
Chinese
+8
-0.2pp
Indian
-21
-0.4pp
Australian Aboriginal
+209
+1.8pp
Dutch
+2
-0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Morningside. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Brisbane (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Brisbane (C)% | Count | % | Brisbane (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 4,739 | 40.3% | 33.3% | 4,092 | 38.7% | 33.6% | +647 | +1.6pp |
| Australian | 3,702 | 31.5% | 27.9% | 3,255 | 30.8% | 28.1% | +447 | +0.7pp |
| Irish | 1,828 | 15.6% | 12.3% | 1,866 | 17.6% | 13.4% | -38 | -2.0pp |
| Scottish | 1,346 | 11.5% | 10.2% | 1,282 | 12.1% | 10.3% | +64 | -0.6pp |
| German | 691 | 5.9% | 5.2% | 632 | 6.0% | 5.3% | +59 | -0.1pp |
| Italian | 502 | 4.3% | 3.4% | 385 | 3.6% | 3.2% | +117 | +0.7pp |
| Chinese | 289 | 2.5% | 7.7% | 281 | 2.7% | 7.2% | +8 | -0.2pp |
| Indian | 247 | 2.1% | 3.7% | 268 | 2.5% | 3.5% | -21 | -0.4pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 235 | 2.0% | 1.7% | 26 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +209 | +1.8pp |
| Dutch | 177 | 1.5% | 1.5% | 175 | 1.7% | 1.4% | +2 | -0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).