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 Memagong were English, Australian and Scottish.

Section overview

Ancestry - Ranked by size

Memagong - Total persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises ancestry for Memagong in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Hilltops (A) and change since 2016.

Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Memagong, with comparison markers for Hilltops (A).

Memagong
Hilltops (A)

English

2021 count

52

% of total

27.4%

Change from 2016

+5.3pp

Australian

2021 count

27

% of total

14.2%

Change from 2016

-4.3pp

Scottish

2021 count

27

% of total

14.2%

Change from 2016

+3.4pp

Irish

2021 count

14

% of total

7.4%

Change from 2016

+4.3pp

Data table

Ancestry for Memagong. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Hilltops (A).

Ancestry for Memagong. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Hilltops (A).
Ancestry for Memagong. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Hilltops (A).
Category20212016Change
Count%Hilltops (A)%Count%Hilltops (A)%Countpp
English5227.4%20.6%4322.1%20.6%+9+5.3pp
Australian2714.2%22.0%3618.5%23.7%-9-4.3pp
Scottish2714.2%4.8%2110.8%4.6%+6+3.4pp
Irish147.4%7.0%63.1%7.4%+8+4.3pp
Total190100.0%100.0%195100.0%100.0%-50.0pp

Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).