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 New Brighton were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
New Brighton - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for New Brighton in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Byron (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for New Brighton, with comparison markers for Byron (A).
English
2021 count
145
% of total
39.4%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
145
39.4%
-0.8pp
Australian
2021 count
119
% of total
32.3%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
119
32.3%
+2.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
41
% of total
11.1%
Change from 2016
+3.0pp
41
11.1%
+3.0pp
Irish
2021 count
36
% of total
9.8%
Change from 2016
-7.6pp
36
9.8%
-7.6pp
German
2021 count
19
% of total
5.2%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
19
5.2%
-0.7pp
Dutch
2021 count
14
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
+2.4pp
14
3.8%
+2.4pp
French
2021 count
11
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
11
3.0%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+2
-0.8pp
Australian
+12
+2.2pp
Scottish
+12
+3.0pp
Irish
-26
-7.6pp
German
-2
-0.7pp
Dutch
+9
+2.4pp
French
+1
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for New Brighton. 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 | 145 | 39.4% | 40.3% | 143 | 40.2% | 39.2% | +2 | -0.8pp |
| Australian | 119 | 32.3% | 30.0% | 107 | 30.1% | 33.9% | +12 | +2.2pp |
| Scottish | 41 | 11.1% | 12.0% | 29 | 8.1% | 11.2% | +12 | +3.0pp |
| Irish | 36 | 9.8% | 15.3% | 62 | 17.4% | 14.8% | -26 | -7.6pp |
| German | 19 | 5.2% | 6.1% | 21 | 5.9% | 5.4% | -2 | -0.7pp |
| Dutch | 14 | 3.8% | 2.0% | 5 | 1.4% | 1.8% | +9 | +2.4pp |
| French | 11 | 3.0% | 1.9% | 10 | 2.8% | 1.3% | +1 | +0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).