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 Lorn were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Lorn - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Lorn in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Maitland (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Lorn, with comparison markers for Maitland (C).
English
2021 count
731
% of total
49.9%
Change from 2016
+3.5pp
731
49.9%
+3.5pp
Australian
2021 count
613
% of total
41.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
613
41.8%
+0.1pp
Irish
2021 count
253
% of total
17.3%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
253
17.3%
-0.5pp
Scottish
2021 count
210
% of total
14.3%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
210
14.3%
+1.5pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
70
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
+4.6pp
70
4.8%
+4.6pp
German
2021 count
66
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
66
4.5%
-0.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
31
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
31
2.1%
+0.5pp
Italian
2021 count
29
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
29
2.0%
+0.6pp
Welsh
2021 count
21
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
21
1.4%
+0.1pp
Chinese
2021 count
16
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
16
1.1%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+110
+3.5pp
Australian
+56
+0.1pp
Irish
+15
-0.5pp
Scottish
+39
+1.5pp
Australian Aboriginal
+67
+4.6pp
German
+4
-0.1pp
Dutch
+9
+0.5pp
Italian
+10
+0.6pp
Welsh
+4
+0.1pp
Chinese
0
-0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Lorn. 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 | |
| English | 731 | 49.9% | 43.1% | 621 | 46.4% | 43.9% | +110 | +3.5pp |
| Australian | 613 | 41.8% | 44.3% | 557 | 41.7% | 45.6% | +56 | +0.1pp |
| Irish | 253 | 17.3% | 10.7% | 238 | 17.8% | 12.3% | +15 | -0.5pp |
| Scottish | 210 | 14.3% | 10.5% | 171 | 12.8% | 10.8% | +39 | +1.5pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 70 | 4.8% | 7.2% | 3 | 0.2% | 0.5% | +67 | +4.6pp |
| German | 66 | 4.5% | 4.3% | 62 | 4.6% | 4.7% | +4 | -0.1pp |
| Dutch | 31 | 2.1% | 1.3% | 22 | 1.6% | 1.2% | +9 | +0.5pp |
| Italian | 29 | 2.0% | 1.6% | 19 | 1.4% | 1.5% | +10 | +0.6pp |
| Welsh | 21 | 1.4% | 0.8% | 17 | 1.3% | 0.8% | +4 | +0.1pp |
| Chinese | 16 | 1.1% | 0.9% | 16 | 1.2% | 0.7% | 0 | -0.1pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).