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 Brunswick Heads were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Brunswick Heads - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Brunswick Heads in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Byron (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Brunswick Heads, with comparison markers for Byron (A).
English
2021 count
838
% of total
44.0%
Change from 2016
+3.8pp
838
44.0%
+3.8pp
Australian
2021 count
639
% of total
33.5%
Change from 2016
-3.9pp
639
33.5%
-3.9pp
Irish
2021 count
341
% of total
17.9%
Change from 2016
+3.2pp
341
17.9%
+3.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
233
% of total
12.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
233
12.2%
+0.1pp
German
2021 count
113
% of total
5.9%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
113
5.9%
+0.8pp
Italian
2021 count
74
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
74
3.9%
+0.8pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
42
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
42
2.2%
+1.7pp
French
2021 count
34
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
34
1.8%
+0.2pp
New Zealander
2021 count
25
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
25
1.3%
+0.7pp
Dutch
2021 count
24
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
24
1.3%
-0.4pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+139
+3.8pp
Australian
-10
-3.9pp
Irish
+85
+3.2pp
Scottish
+23
+0.1pp
German
+25
+0.8pp
Italian
+21
+0.8pp
Australian Aboriginal
+33
+1.7pp
French
+7
+0.2pp
New Zealander
+14
+0.7pp
Dutch
-5
-0.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for Brunswick Heads. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Byron (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Byron (A)% | Count | % | Byron (A)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 838 | 44.0% | 40.3% | 699 | 40.2% | 39.2% | +139 | +3.8pp |
| Australian | 639 | 33.5% | 30.0% | 649 | 37.4% | 33.9% | -10 | -3.9pp |
| Irish | 341 | 17.9% | 15.3% | 256 | 14.7% | 14.8% | +85 | +3.2pp |
| Scottish | 233 | 12.2% | 12.0% | 210 | 12.1% | 11.2% | +23 | +0.1pp |
| German | 113 | 5.9% | 6.1% | 88 | 5.1% | 5.4% | +25 | +0.8pp |
| Italian | 74 | 3.9% | 4.2% | 53 | 3.1% | 2.8% | +21 | +0.8pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 42 | 2.2% | 1.8% | 9 | 0.5% | 0.3% | +33 | +1.7pp |
| French | 34 | 1.8% | 1.9% | 27 | 1.6% | 1.3% | +7 | +0.2pp |
| New Zealander | 25 | 1.3% | 0.9% | 11 | 0.6% | 1.0% | +14 | +0.7pp |
| Dutch | 24 | 1.3% | 2.0% | 29 | 1.7% | 1.8% | -5 | -0.4pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).