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 Bramston Beach were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Bramston Beach - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Bramston Beach in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cairns (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Bramston Beach, with comparison markers for Cairns (R).
English
2021 count
77
% of total
23.1%
Change from 2016
+8.9pp
77
23.1%
+8.9pp
Australian
2021 count
52
% of total
15.6%
Change from 2016
-4.9pp
52
15.6%
-4.9pp
Irish
2021 count
25
% of total
7.5%
Change from 2016
+4.3pp
25
7.5%
+4.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
17
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
17
5.1%
+1.8pp
Italian
2021 count
14
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
-14.5pp
14
4.2%
-14.5pp
German
2021 count
10
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
10
3.0%
+2.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-4
+8.9pp
Australian
-65
-4.9pp
Irish
+7
+4.3pp
Scottish
-2
+1.8pp
Italian
-93
-14.5pp
German
+6
+2.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Bramston Beach. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Cairns (R).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Cairns (R)% | Count | % | Cairns (R)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 77 | 23.1% | 17.2% | 81 | 14.2% | 17.5% | -4 | +8.9pp |
| Australian | 52 | 15.6% | 15.0% | 117 | 20.5% | 17.3% | -65 | -4.9pp |
| Irish | 25 | 7.5% | 5.2% | 18 | 3.2% | 5.8% | +7 | +4.3pp |
| Scottish | 17 | 5.1% | 4.7% | 19 | 3.3% | 4.7% | -2 | +1.8pp |
| Italian | 14 | 4.2% | 2.5% | 107 | 18.7% | 2.4% | -93 | -14.5pp |
| German | 10 | 3.0% | 2.6% | 4 | 0.7% | 2.7% | +6 | +2.3pp |
| Total | 334 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 571 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -237 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).