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 Edgcumbe Beach were English, Australian and Scottish.

Section overview

Ancestry - Ranked by size

Edgcumbe Beach - Total persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises ancestry for Edgcumbe Beach in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Circular Head (M) and change since 2016.

Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Edgcumbe Beach, with comparison markers for Circular Head (M).

Edgcumbe Beach
Circular Head (M)

English

2021 count

32

% of total

24.4%

Change from 2016

-1.4pp

Australian

2021 count

24

% of total

18.3%

Change from 2016

-6.4pp

Scottish

2021 count

10

% of total

7.6%

Change from 2016

+2.4pp

Irish

2021 count

10

% of total

7.6%

Change from 2016

+1.7pp

Data table

Ancestry for Edgcumbe Beach. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Circular Head (M).

Ancestry for Edgcumbe Beach. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Circular Head (M).
Ancestry for Edgcumbe Beach. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Circular Head (M).
Category20212016Change
Count%Circular Head (M)%Count%Circular Head (M)%Countpp
English3224.4%19.7%7025.8%20.6%-38-1.4pp
Australian2418.3%22.1%6724.7%25.7%-43-6.4pp
Scottish107.6%3.8%145.2%4.2%-4+2.4pp
Irish107.6%4.7%165.9%4.9%-6+1.7pp
Total131100.0%100.0%271100.0%100.0%-1400.0pp

Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).