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 Duckenfield were English, Australian and Irish.

Section overview

Ancestry - Ranked by size

Duckenfield - Total persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises ancestry for Duckenfield in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Maitland (C) and change since 2016.

Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Duckenfield, with comparison markers for Maitland (C).

Duckenfield
Maitland (C)

English

2021 count

52

% of total

56.5%

Change from 2016

+6.5pp

Australian

2021 count

39

% of total

42.4%

Change from 2016

-7.6pp

Irish

2021 count

23

% of total

25.0%

Change from 2016

+4.6pp

Data table

Ancestry for Duckenfield. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Maitland (C).

Ancestry for Duckenfield. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Maitland (C).
Ancestry for Duckenfield. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Maitland (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Maitland (C)%Count%Maitland (C)%Countpp
English5256.5%43.1%5450.0%43.9%-2+6.5pp
Australian3942.4%44.3%5450.0%45.6%-15-7.6pp
Irish2325.0%10.7%2220.4%12.3%+1+4.6pp

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