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 East Gresford were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
East Gresford - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for East Gresford in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Dungog (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for East Gresford, with comparison markers for Dungog (A).
English
2021 count
169
% of total
50.0%
Change from 2016
+2.6pp
169
50.0%
+2.6pp
Australian
2021 count
168
% of total
49.7%
Change from 2016
-4.9pp
168
49.7%
-4.9pp
Irish
2021 count
41
% of total
12.1%
Change from 2016
+5.2pp
41
12.1%
+5.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
30
% of total
8.9%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
30
8.9%
+1.7pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
22
% of total
6.5%
Change from 2016
-
22
6.5%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+24
+2.6pp
Australian
+1
-4.9pp
Irish
+20
+5.2pp
Scottish
+8
+1.7pp
Data table
Ancestry for East Gresford. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Dungog (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Dungog (A)% | Count | % | Dungog (A)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 169 | 50.0% | 44.7% | 145 | 47.4% | 43.1% | +24 | +2.6pp |
| Australian | 168 | 49.7% | 48.4% | 167 | 54.6% | 48.2% | +1 | -4.9pp |
| Irish | 41 | 12.1% | 11.6% | 21 | 6.9% | 11.2% | +20 | +5.2pp |
| Scottish | 30 | 8.9% | 10.5% | 22 | 7.2% | 10.3% | +8 | +1.7pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 22 | 6.5% | 6.2% | - | - | 0.3% | - | - |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).