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 Main Arm were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Main Arm - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Main Arm in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Byron (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Main Arm, with comparison markers for Byron (A).
English
2021 count
199
% of total
31.1%
Change from 2016
-4.2pp
199
31.1%
-4.2pp
Australian
2021 count
185
% of total
28.9%
Change from 2016
-5.9pp
185
28.9%
-5.9pp
Irish
2021 count
95
% of total
14.8%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
95
14.8%
+1.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
63
% of total
9.8%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
63
9.8%
+1.1pp
German
2021 count
36
% of total
5.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
36
5.6%
+0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
20
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
-
20
3.1%
-
Italian
2021 count
20
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
20
3.1%
+0.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
10
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
10
1.6%
-1.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-8
-4.2pp
Australian
-19
-5.9pp
Irish
+18
+1.7pp
Scottish
+12
+1.1pp
German
+4
+0.1pp
Italian
+3
+0.2pp
Dutch
-7
-1.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Main Arm. 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 | 199 | 31.1% | 40.3% | 207 | 35.3% | 39.2% | -8 | -4.2pp |
| Australian | 185 | 28.9% | 30.0% | 204 | 34.8% | 33.9% | -19 | -5.9pp |
| Irish | 95 | 14.8% | 15.3% | 77 | 13.1% | 14.8% | +18 | +1.7pp |
| Scottish | 63 | 9.8% | 12.0% | 51 | 8.7% | 11.2% | +12 | +1.1pp |
| German | 36 | 5.6% | 6.1% | 32 | 5.5% | 5.4% | +4 | +0.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 20 | 3.1% | 1.8% | - | - | 0.3% | - | - |
| Italian | 20 | 3.1% | 4.2% | 17 | 2.9% | 2.8% | +3 | +0.2pp |
| Dutch | 10 | 1.6% | 2.0% | 17 | 2.9% | 1.8% | -7 | -1.3pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).