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 Mays Hill (part) were Indian, English and Australian.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Mays Hill (part) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Mays Hill (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cumberland (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Mays Hill (part), with comparison markers for Cumberland (A).
Indian
2021 count
534
% of total
14.1%
Change from 2016
-
534
14.1%
-
English
2021 count
161
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
-13.5pp
161
4.2%
-13.5pp
Australian
2021 count
147
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
-21.1pp
147
3.9%
-21.1pp
Chinese
2021 count
126
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
-
126
3.3%
-
Lebanese
2021 count
124
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
-
124
3.3%
-
Tamil, nfd
2021 count
84
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
-
84
2.2%
-
Afghan
2021 count
60
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-
60
1.6%
-
Filipino
2021 count
55
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-
55
1.4%
-
Telugu
2021 count
54
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-
54
1.4%
-
Southern Asian, nfd
2021 count
49
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-
49
1.3%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+139
-13.5pp
Australian
+116
-21.1pp
Scottish
+16
-7.4pp
Irish
+16
-2.7pp
German
+8
-2.9pp
Data table
Ancestry for Mays Hill (part). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Cumberland (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Cumberland (A)% | Count | % | Cumberland (A)% | Count | pp | |
| Indian | 534 | 14.1% | 4.3% | - | - | 4.2% | - | - |
| English | 161 | 4.2% | 4.6% | 22 | 17.7% | 5.1% | +139 | -13.5pp |
| Australian | 147 | 3.9% | 5.3% | 31 | 25.0% | 6.0% | +116 | -21.1pp |
| Chinese | 126 | 3.3% | 6.3% | - | - | 6.3% | - | - |
| Lebanese | 124 | 3.3% | 5.9% | - | - | 6.6% | - | - |
| Tamil, nfd | 84 | 2.2% | 1.1% | - | - | 0.5% | - | - |
| Afghan | 60 | 1.6% | 1.1% | - | - | 1.4% | - | - |
| Filipino | 55 | 1.4% | 1.2% | - | - | 1.2% | - | - |
| Telugu | 54 | 1.4% | 0.3% | - | - | 0.0% | - | - |
| Southern Asian, nfd | 49 | 1.3% | 0.4% | - | - | 0.2% | - | - |
| Total | 3,800 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 124 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +3,676 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).