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 Cranbrook (S) were English, Australian and Scottish.

Section overview

Ancestry - Ranked by size

Cranbrook (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises ancestry for Cranbrook (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.

Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Cranbrook (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.

Cranbrook (S)
Regional WA

English

2021 count

526

% of total

24.3%

Change from 2016

+0.5pp

Australian

2021 count

455

% of total

21.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Scottish

2021 count

89

% of total

4.1%

Change from 2016

+0.7pp

Irish

2021 count

69

% of total

3.2%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Italian

2021 count

32

% of total

1.5%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

German

2021 count

31

% of total

1.4%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Australian Aboriginal

2021 count

20

% of total

0.9%

Change from 2016

+0.8pp

Welsh

2021 count

18

% of total

0.8%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Dutch

2021 count

17

% of total

0.8%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Maori

2021 count

16

% of total

0.7%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Data table

Ancestry for Cranbrook (S). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.

Ancestry for Cranbrook (S). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
Ancestry for Cranbrook (S). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional WA%Count%Regional WA%Countpp
English52624.3%20.0%51123.8%19.7%+15+0.5pp
Australian45521.0%18.2%45121.0%19.9%+40.0pp
Scottish894.1%4.5%733.4%4.4%+16+0.7pp
Irish693.2%4.3%663.1%4.3%+3+0.1pp
Italian321.5%1.9%281.3%1.8%+4+0.2pp
German311.4%1.7%331.5%1.7%-2-0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal200.9%3.9%30.1%1.5%+17+0.8pp
Welsh180.8%0.4%140.7%0.4%+4+0.1pp
Dutch170.8%1.0%140.7%0.9%+3+0.1pp
Maori160.7%0.6%160.7%0.6%00.0pp
Total2,162100.0%100.0%2,149100.0%100.0%+130.0pp

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