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 Sheffield were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Sheffield - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Sheffield in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Kentish (M) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Sheffield, with comparison markers for Kentish (M).
English
2021 count
695
% of total
43.4%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
695
43.4%
-0.2pp
Australian
2021 count
656
% of total
40.9%
Change from 2016
-2.1pp
656
40.9%
-2.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
174
% of total
10.9%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
174
10.9%
-0.8pp
Irish
2021 count
132
% of total
8.2%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
132
8.2%
+0.4pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
78
% of total
4.9%
Change from 2016
+4.6pp
78
4.9%
+4.6pp
German
2021 count
74
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
74
4.6%
+0.5pp
Dutch
2021 count
27
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
27
1.7%
+0.1pp
Welsh
2021 count
19
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
19
1.2%
+0.9pp
Chinese
2021 count
18
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
18
1.1%
-0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
16
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
16
1.0%
+0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+19
-0.2pp
Australian
-12
-2.1pp
Scottish
-8
-0.8pp
Irish
+11
+0.4pp
Australian Aboriginal
+74
+4.6pp
German
+11
+0.5pp
Dutch
+2
+0.1pp
Welsh
+15
+0.9pp
Chinese
-1
-0.1pp
Italian
+5
+0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Sheffield. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Kentish (M).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Kentish (M)% | Count | % | Kentish (M)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 695 | 43.4% | 42.9% | 676 | 43.6% | 43.5% | +19 | -0.2pp |
| Australian | 656 | 40.9% | 42.7% | 668 | 43.0% | 45.7% | -12 | -2.1pp |
| Scottish | 174 | 10.9% | 9.8% | 182 | 11.7% | 9.3% | -8 | -0.8pp |
| Irish | 132 | 8.2% | 9.0% | 121 | 7.8% | 9.0% | +11 | +0.4pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 78 | 4.9% | 5.6% | 4 | 0.3% | 0.3% | +74 | +4.6pp |
| German | 74 | 4.6% | 3.9% | 63 | 4.1% | 3.6% | +11 | +0.5pp |
| Dutch | 27 | 1.7% | 2.1% | 25 | 1.6% | 2.3% | +2 | +0.1pp |
| Welsh | 19 | 1.2% | 0.7% | 4 | 0.3% | 0.6% | +15 | +0.9pp |
| Chinese | 18 | 1.1% | 0.8% | 19 | 1.2% | 0.4% | -1 | -0.1pp |
| Italian | 16 | 1.0% | 1.0% | 11 | 0.7% | 0.8% | +5 | +0.3pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).