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 Upper Main Arm were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Upper Main Arm - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Upper 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 Upper Main Arm, with comparison markers for Byron (A).
English
2021 count
100
% of total
18.6%
Change from 2016
+8.6pp
100
18.6%
+8.6pp
Australian
2021 count
67
% of total
12.4%
Change from 2016
-22.6pp
67
12.4%
-22.6pp
Irish
2021 count
54
% of total
10.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
54
10.0%
0.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
31
% of total
5.8%
Change from 2016
-14.2pp
31
5.8%
-14.2pp
German
2021 count
24
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
-
24
4.5%
-
Jewish
2021 count
12
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
-
12
2.2%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+96
+8.6pp
Australian
+53
-22.6pp
Irish
+50
0.0pp
Scottish
+23
-14.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Upper 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 | 100 | 18.6% | 20.2% | 4 | 10.0% | 19.6% | +96 | +8.6pp |
| Australian | 67 | 12.4% | 15.0% | 14 | 35.0% | 17.0% | +53 | -22.6pp |
| Irish | 54 | 10.0% | 7.6% | 4 | 10.0% | 7.4% | +50 | 0.0pp |
| Scottish | 31 | 5.8% | 6.0% | 8 | 20.0% | 5.6% | +23 | -14.2pp |
| German | 24 | 4.5% | 3.1% | - | - | 2.7% | - | - |
| Jewish | 12 | 2.2% | 0.2% | - | - | 0.1% | - | - |
| Total | 539 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 40 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +499 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).