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 Lauderdale were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Lauderdale - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Lauderdale in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Clarence (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Lauderdale, with comparison markers for Clarence (C).
English
2021 count
1,301
% of total
50.2%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
1,301
50.2%
+1.7pp
Australian
2021 count
1,104
% of total
42.6%
Change from 2016
-3.5pp
1,104
42.6%
-3.5pp
Scottish
2021 count
296
% of total
11.4%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
296
11.4%
-0.2pp
Irish
2021 count
282
% of total
10.9%
Change from 2016
-2.1pp
282
10.9%
-2.1pp
German
2021 count
115
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
115
4.4%
+1.5pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
93
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
+3.4pp
93
3.6%
+3.4pp
Dutch
2021 count
70
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
70
2.7%
+0.9pp
Italian
2021 count
51
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
51
2.0%
+0.6pp
Welsh
2021 count
31
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
31
1.2%
+0.3pp
Polish
2021 count
26
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
26
1.0%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+132
+1.7pp
Australian
-7
-3.5pp
Scottish
+16
-0.2pp
Irish
-31
-2.1pp
German
+44
+1.5pp
Australian Aboriginal
+89
+3.4pp
Dutch
+26
+0.9pp
Italian
+18
+0.6pp
Welsh
+10
+0.3pp
Polish
+6
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Lauderdale. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Clarence (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Clarence (C)% | Count | % | Clarence (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 1,301 | 50.2% | 45.9% | 1,169 | 48.5% | 47.0% | +132 | +1.7pp |
| Australian | 1,104 | 42.6% | 40.3% | 1,111 | 46.1% | 43.4% | -7 | -3.5pp |
| Scottish | 296 | 11.4% | 9.8% | 280 | 11.6% | 9.8% | +16 | -0.2pp |
| Irish | 282 | 10.9% | 11.1% | 313 | 13.0% | 12.1% | -31 | -2.1pp |
| German | 115 | 4.4% | 3.5% | 71 | 2.9% | 3.5% | +44 | +1.5pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 93 | 3.6% | 3.7% | 4 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +89 | +3.4pp |
| Dutch | 70 | 2.7% | 1.7% | 44 | 1.8% | 1.6% | +26 | +0.9pp |
| Italian | 51 | 2.0% | 1.7% | 33 | 1.4% | 1.4% | +18 | +0.6pp |
| Welsh | 31 | 1.2% | 0.6% | 21 | 0.9% | 0.6% | +10 | +0.3pp |
| Polish | 26 | 1.0% | 0.9% | 20 | 0.8% | 0.7% | +6 | +0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).