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.
English
2021 count
526
% of total
47.8%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
526
47.8%
+0.9pp
Australian
2021 count
455
% of total
41.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
455
41.4%
0.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
89
% of total
8.1%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
89
8.1%
+1.4pp
Irish
2021 count
69
% of total
6.3%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
69
6.3%
+0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
32
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
32
2.9%
+0.3pp
German
2021 count
31
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
31
2.8%
-0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
20
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
20
1.8%
+1.5pp
Welsh
2021 count
18
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
18
1.6%
+0.3pp
Dutch
2021 count
17
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
17
1.5%
+0.2pp
Maori
2021 count
16
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
16
1.5%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+15
+0.9pp
Australian
+4
0.0pp
Scottish
+16
+1.4pp
Irish
+3
+0.2pp
Italian
+4
+0.3pp
German
-2
-0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
+17
+1.5pp
Welsh
+4
+0.3pp
Dutch
+3
+0.2pp
Maori
0
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Cranbrook (S). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | pp | |
| English | 526 | 47.8% | 40.0% | 511 | 46.9% | 39.4% | +15 | +0.9pp |
| Australian | 455 | 41.4% | 36.3% | 451 | 41.4% | 39.9% | +4 | 0.0pp |
| Scottish | 89 | 8.1% | 9.0% | 73 | 6.7% | 8.8% | +16 | +1.4pp |
| Irish | 69 | 6.3% | 8.6% | 66 | 6.1% | 8.7% | +3 | +0.2pp |
| Italian | 32 | 2.9% | 3.8% | 28 | 2.6% | 3.6% | +4 | +0.3pp |
| German | 31 | 2.8% | 3.4% | 33 | 3.0% | 3.3% | -2 | -0.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 20 | 1.8% | 7.8% | 3 | 0.3% | 3.1% | +17 | +1.5pp |
| Welsh | 18 | 1.6% | 0.7% | 14 | 1.3% | 0.7% | +4 | +0.3pp |
| Dutch | 17 | 1.5% | 1.9% | 14 | 1.3% | 1.8% | +3 | +0.2pp |
| Maori | 16 | 1.5% | 1.3% | 16 | 1.5% | 1.2% | 0 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).