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 Bridport were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Bridport - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Bridport in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Dorset (M) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Bridport, with comparison markers for Dorset (M).
English
2021 count
798
% of total
23.0%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
798
23.0%
+1.1pp
Australian
2021 count
706
% of total
20.4%
Change from 2016
-3.0pp
706
20.4%
-3.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
182
% of total
5.2%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
182
5.2%
-0.5pp
Irish
2021 count
148
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
148
4.3%
+0.2pp
German
2021 count
59
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
59
1.7%
-0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
56
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
56
1.6%
+1.5pp
Dutch
2021 count
29
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
29
0.8%
+0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
20
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
20
0.6%
0.0pp
Polish
2021 count
15
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
15
0.4%
+0.1pp
New Zealander
2021 count
10
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
10
0.3%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+112
+1.1pp
Australian
-28
-3.0pp
Scottish
+4
-0.5pp
Irish
+18
+0.2pp
German
+1
-0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
+52
+1.5pp
Dutch
+6
+0.1pp
Italian
+2
0.0pp
Polish
+7
+0.1pp
New Zealander
+7
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Bridport. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Dorset (M).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Dorset (M)% | Count | % | Dorset (M)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 798 | 23.0% | 22.9% | 686 | 21.9% | 22.2% | +112 | +1.1pp |
| Australian | 706 | 20.4% | 22.8% | 734 | 23.4% | 24.4% | -28 | -3.0pp |
| Scottish | 182 | 5.2% | 4.6% | 178 | 5.7% | 4.8% | +4 | -0.5pp |
| Irish | 148 | 4.3% | 4.3% | 130 | 4.1% | 4.1% | +18 | +0.2pp |
| German | 59 | 1.7% | 1.7% | 58 | 1.9% | 1.8% | +1 | -0.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 56 | 1.6% | 1.9% | 4 | 0.1% | 0.1% | +52 | +1.5pp |
| Dutch | 29 | 0.8% | 0.7% | 23 | 0.7% | 0.8% | +6 | +0.1pp |
| Italian | 20 | 0.6% | 0.5% | 18 | 0.6% | 0.5% | +2 | 0.0pp |
| Polish | 15 | 0.4% | 0.2% | 8 | 0.3% | 0.2% | +7 | +0.1pp |
| New Zealander | 10 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 3 | 0.1% | 0.1% | +7 | +0.2pp |
| Total | 3,469 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 3,134 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +335 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).