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 Grasmere were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Grasmere - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Grasmere in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Camden (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Grasmere, with comparison markers for Camden (A).
English
2021 count
868
% of total
41.2%
Change from 2016
+3.3pp
868
41.2%
+3.3pp
Australian
2021 count
754
% of total
35.8%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
754
35.8%
+0.4pp
Irish
2021 count
221
% of total
10.5%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
221
10.5%
-0.3pp
Italian
2021 count
206
% of total
9.8%
Change from 2016
+2.1pp
206
9.8%
+2.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
173
% of total
8.2%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
173
8.2%
+0.5pp
Maltese
2021 count
92
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
92
4.4%
+1.5pp
German
2021 count
63
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
63
3.0%
+0.6pp
Dutch
2021 count
35
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
35
1.7%
+0.6pp
Croatian
2021 count
34
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
34
1.6%
+0.9pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
26
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-
26
1.2%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+125
+3.3pp
Australian
+60
+0.4pp
Irish
+9
-0.3pp
Italian
+54
+2.1pp
Scottish
+22
+0.5pp
Maltese
+36
+1.5pp
German
+15
+0.6pp
Dutch
+14
+0.6pp
Croatian
+21
+0.9pp
Welsh
+15
+0.6pp
Data table
Ancestry for Grasmere. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Camden (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Camden (A)% | Count | % | Camden (A)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 868 | 41.2% | 28.9% | 743 | 37.9% | 34.7% | +125 | +3.3pp |
| Australian | 754 | 35.8% | 32.7% | 694 | 35.4% | 37.2% | +60 | +0.4pp |
| Irish | 221 | 10.5% | 7.6% | 212 | 10.8% | 10.2% | +9 | -0.3pp |
| Italian | 206 | 9.8% | 7.4% | 152 | 7.7% | 6.9% | +54 | +2.1pp |
| Scottish | 173 | 8.2% | 6.7% | 151 | 7.7% | 8.2% | +22 | +0.5pp |
| Maltese | 92 | 4.4% | 2.8% | 56 | 2.9% | 2.8% | +36 | +1.5pp |
| German | 63 | 3.0% | 2.7% | 48 | 2.4% | 3.3% | +15 | +0.6pp |
| Dutch | 35 | 1.7% | 1.0% | 21 | 1.1% | 1.2% | +14 | +0.6pp |
| Croatian | 34 | 1.6% | 1.4% | 13 | 0.7% | 1.2% | +21 | +0.9pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 26 | 1.2% | 3.1% | - | - | 0.3% | - | - |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).