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 Cumnock were Australian, English and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Cumnock - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Cumnock in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cabonne (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cumnock, with comparison markers for Cabonne (A).
Australian
2021 count
235
% of total
47.9%
Change from 2016
-4.0pp
235
47.9%
-4.0pp
English
2021 count
202
% of total
41.1%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
202
41.1%
+1.4pp
Irish
2021 count
55
% of total
11.2%
Change from 2016
+2.8pp
55
11.2%
+2.8pp
Scottish
2021 count
37
% of total
7.5%
Change from 2016
-2.4pp
37
7.5%
-2.4pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
28
% of total
5.7%
Change from 2016
-
28
5.7%
-
German
2021 count
20
% of total
4.1%
Change from 2016
+3.0pp
20
4.1%
+3.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+5
-4.0pp
English
+26
+1.4pp
Irish
+18
+2.8pp
Scottish
-7
-2.4pp
German
+15
+3.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Cumnock. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Cabonne (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Cabonne (A)% | Count | % | Cabonne (A)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 235 | 47.9% | 46.5% | 230 | 51.9% | 48.0% | +5 | -4.0pp |
| English | 202 | 41.1% | 41.9% | 176 | 39.7% | 42.4% | +26 | +1.4pp |
| Irish | 55 | 11.2% | 12.6% | 37 | 8.4% | 12.7% | +18 | +2.8pp |
| Scottish | 37 | 7.5% | 10.8% | 44 | 9.9% | 10.1% | -7 | -2.4pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 28 | 5.7% | 4.7% | - | - | 0.3% | - | - |
| German | 20 | 4.1% | 4.0% | 5 | 1.1% | 3.4% | +15 | +3.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).