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 Chisholm (NSW) were Australian, English and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Chisholm (NSW) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Chisholm (NSW) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Maitland (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Chisholm (NSW), with comparison markers for Maitland (C).
Australian
2021 count
1,915
% of total
20.9%
Change from 2016
+9.8pp
1,915
20.9%
+9.8pp
English
2021 count
1,851
% of total
20.2%
Change from 2016
+10.6pp
1,851
20.2%
+10.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
434
% of total
4.7%
Change from 2016
+2.4pp
434
4.7%
+2.4pp
Irish
2021 count
385
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
385
4.2%
+1.5pp
Indian
2021 count
271
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
271
3.0%
+1.8pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
214
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
214
2.3%
+2.2pp
German
2021 count
193
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
193
2.1%
+1.0pp
Italian
2021 count
85
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
-3.4pp
85
0.9%
-3.4pp
Filipino
2021 count
64
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
64
0.7%
+0.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
57
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
57
0.6%
+0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-81
+9.8pp
English
+127
+10.6pp
Scottish
+21
+2.4pp
Irish
-107
+1.5pp
Indian
+47
+1.8pp
Australian Aboriginal
+202
+2.2pp
German
-10
+1.0pp
Italian
-685
-3.4pp
Filipino
-23
+0.2pp
Dutch
+5
+0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Chisholm (NSW). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Maitland (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Maitland (C)% | Count | % | Maitland (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 1,915 | 20.9% | 22.2% | 1,996 | 11.1% | 22.8% | -81 | +9.8pp |
| English | 1,851 | 20.2% | 21.5% | 1,724 | 9.6% | 21.9% | +127 | +10.6pp |
| Scottish | 434 | 4.7% | 5.2% | 413 | 2.3% | 5.4% | +21 | +2.4pp |
| Irish | 385 | 4.2% | 5.3% | 492 | 2.7% | 6.2% | -107 | +1.5pp |
| Indian | 271 | 3.0% | 0.5% | 224 | 1.2% | 0.4% | +47 | +1.8pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 214 | 2.3% | 3.6% | 12 | 0.1% | 0.3% | +202 | +2.2pp |
| German | 193 | 2.1% | 2.2% | 203 | 1.1% | 2.4% | -10 | +1.0pp |
| Italian | 85 | 0.9% | 0.8% | 770 | 4.3% | 0.7% | -685 | -3.4pp |
| Filipino | 64 | 0.7% | 0.5% | 87 | 0.5% | 0.3% | -23 | +0.2pp |
| Dutch | 57 | 0.6% | 0.6% | 52 | 0.3% | 0.6% | +5 | +0.3pp |
| Total | 9,170 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 18,007 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -8,837 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).