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 Cunningar were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Cunningar - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Cunningar in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Hilltops (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cunningar, with comparison markers for Hilltops (A).
English
2021 count
79
% of total
48.5%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
79
48.5%
-1.8pp
Australian
2021 count
67
% of total
41.1%
Change from 2016
-3.7pp
67
41.1%
-3.7pp
Irish
2021 count
31
% of total
19.0%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
31
19.0%
-1.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
24
% of total
14.7%
Change from 2016
+4.4pp
24
14.7%
+4.4pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+6
-1.8pp
Australian
+2
-3.7pp
Irish
+1
-1.7pp
Scottish
+9
+4.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for Cunningar. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Hilltops (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Hilltops (A)% | Count | % | Hilltops (A)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 79 | 48.5% | 41.1% | 73 | 50.3% | 41.1% | +6 | -1.8pp |
| Australian | 67 | 41.1% | 43.9% | 65 | 44.8% | 47.3% | +2 | -3.7pp |
| Irish | 31 | 19.0% | 14.1% | 30 | 20.7% | 14.8% | +1 | -1.7pp |
| Scottish | 24 | 14.7% | 9.6% | 15 | 10.3% | 9.2% | +9 | +4.4pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).