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 Scoresby were Australian, English and Chinese.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Scoresby - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Scoresby in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Knox (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Scoresby, with comparison markers for Knox (C).
Australian
2021 count
1,488
% of total
12.3%
Change from 2016
-8.9pp
1,488
12.3%
-8.9pp
English
2021 count
1,443
% of total
11.9%
Change from 2016
-8.4pp
1,443
11.9%
-8.4pp
Chinese
2021 count
1,111
% of total
9.2%
Change from 2016
+6.6pp
1,111
9.2%
+6.6pp
Indian
2021 count
430
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
-
430
3.6%
-
Scottish
2021 count
387
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
-8.5pp
387
3.2%
-8.5pp
Irish
2021 count
373
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
-2.5pp
373
3.1%
-2.5pp
Italian
2021 count
245
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-
245
2.0%
-
Sri Lankan
2021 count
212
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-
212
1.8%
-
German
2021 count
177
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-
177
1.5%
-
Greek
2021 count
137
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-
137
1.1%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+1,439
-8.9pp
English
+1,396
-8.4pp
Chinese
+1,105
+6.6pp
Scottish
+360
-8.5pp
Irish
+360
-2.5pp
Maori
+20
-1.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Scoresby. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Knox (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Knox (C)% | Count | % | Knox (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 1,488 | 12.3% | 13.9% | 49 | 21.2% | 14.6% | +1,439 | -8.9pp |
| English | 1,443 | 11.9% | 14.8% | 47 | 20.3% | 15.7% | +1,396 | -8.4pp |
| Chinese | 1,111 | 9.2% | 7.0% | 6 | 2.6% | 5.6% | +1,105 | +6.6pp |
| Indian | 430 | 3.6% | 2.2% | - | - | 1.9% | - | - |
| Scottish | 387 | 3.2% | 3.9% | 27 | 11.7% | 4.1% | +360 | -8.5pp |
| Irish | 373 | 3.1% | 4.0% | 13 | 5.6% | 4.6% | +360 | -2.5pp |
| Italian | 245 | 2.0% | 2.4% | - | - | 2.4% | - | - |
| Sri Lankan | 212 | 1.8% | 0.9% | - | - | 1.1% | - | - |
| German | 177 | 1.5% | 1.9% | - | - | 2.0% | - | - |
| Greek | 137 | 1.1% | 1.1% | - | - | 1.1% | - | - |
| Total | 12,091 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 231 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +11,860 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).