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 Nashua were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Nashua - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Nashua in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Byron (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Nashua, with comparison markers for Byron (A).
English
2021 count
124
% of total
24.4%
Change from 2016
+2.4pp
124
24.4%
+2.4pp
Australian
2021 count
77
% of total
15.1%
Change from 2016
-4.0pp
77
15.1%
-4.0pp
Irish
2021 count
57
% of total
11.2%
Change from 2016
+4.7pp
57
11.2%
+4.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
39
% of total
7.7%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
39
7.7%
+1.9pp
German
2021 count
20
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
20
3.9%
+1.8pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-2,426
+2.4pp
Australian
-2,131
-4.0pp
Irish
-690
+4.7pp
Scottish
-630
+1.9pp
German
-221
+1.8pp
Data table
Ancestry for Nashua. 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 | 124 | 24.4% | 20.2% | 2,550 | 22.0% | 19.6% | -2,426 | +2.4pp |
| Australian | 77 | 15.1% | 15.0% | 2,208 | 19.1% | 17.0% | -2,131 | -4.0pp |
| Irish | 57 | 11.2% | 7.6% | 747 | 6.5% | 7.4% | -690 | +4.7pp |
| Scottish | 39 | 7.7% | 6.0% | 669 | 5.8% | 5.6% | -630 | +1.9pp |
| German | 20 | 3.9% | 3.1% | 241 | 2.1% | 2.7% | -221 | +1.8pp |
| Total | 509 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 11,577 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -11,068 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).