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 Frankston South were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Frankston South - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Frankston South in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Frankston (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Frankston South, with comparison markers for Frankston (C).
English
2021 count
8,164
% of total
21.7%
Change from 2016
+17.6pp
8,164
21.7%
+17.6pp
Australian
2021 count
6,665
% of total
17.7%
Change from 2016
+14.3pp
6,665
17.7%
+14.3pp
Irish
2021 count
2,297
% of total
6.1%
Change from 2016
+5.0pp
2,297
6.1%
+5.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
2,248
% of total
6.0%
Change from 2016
+4.9pp
2,248
6.0%
+4.9pp
Italian
2021 count
877
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
+2.1pp
877
2.3%
+2.1pp
German
2021 count
811
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
811
2.2%
+1.9pp
Dutch
2021 count
485
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
485
1.3%
+1.1pp
Chinese
2021 count
404
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-
404
1.1%
-
Greek
2021 count
388
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-
388
1.0%
-
Indian
2021 count
238
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-
238
0.6%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+8,086
+17.6pp
Australian
+6,600
+14.3pp
Irish
+2,276
+5.0pp
Scottish
+2,228
+4.9pp
Italian
+874
+2.1pp
German
+805
+1.9pp
Dutch
+482
+1.1pp
New Zealander
+157
0.0pp
Maltese
+93
0.0pp
Maori
+69
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Frankston South. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Frankston (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Frankston (C)% | Count | % | Frankston (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 8,164 | 21.7% | 20.2% | 78 | 4.1% | 20.0% | +8,086 | +17.6pp |
| Australian | 6,665 | 17.7% | 17.7% | 65 | 3.4% | 17.7% | +6,600 | +14.3pp |
| Irish | 2,297 | 6.1% | 5.4% | 21 | 1.1% | 5.7% | +2,276 | +5.0pp |
| Scottish | 2,248 | 6.0% | 5.3% | 20 | 1.1% | 5.1% | +2,228 | +4.9pp |
| Italian | 877 | 2.3% | 2.0% | 3 | 0.2% | 1.8% | +874 | +2.1pp |
| German | 811 | 2.2% | 2.0% | 6 | 0.3% | 2.0% | +805 | +1.9pp |
| Dutch | 485 | 1.3% | 1.2% | 3 | 0.2% | 1.2% | +482 | +1.1pp |
| Chinese | 404 | 1.1% | 1.0% | - | - | 0.9% | - | - |
| Greek | 388 | 1.0% | 1.0% | - | - | 0.8% | - | - |
| Indian | 238 | 0.6% | 0.9% | - | - | 0.9% | - | - |
| Total | 37,577 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1,892 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +35,685 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).