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 Maitland (NSW) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Maitland (NSW) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Maitland (NSW) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Maitland (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Maitland (NSW), with comparison markers for Maitland (C).
English
2021 count
813
% of total
41.2%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
813
41.2%
-1.3pp
Australian
2021 count
769
% of total
39.0%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
769
39.0%
+1.8pp
Irish
2021 count
299
% of total
15.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
299
15.2%
+0.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
243
% of total
12.3%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
243
12.3%
+1.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
137
% of total
6.9%
Change from 2016
+6.3pp
137
6.9%
+6.3pp
German
2021 count
88
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
88
4.5%
+0.4pp
Italian
2021 count
28
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
28
1.4%
+0.6pp
Filipino
2021 count
24
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
24
1.2%
+0.4pp
Dutch
2021 count
20
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
20
1.0%
+0.5pp
Maltese
2021 count
20
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
20
1.0%
+0.6pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+12
-1.3pp
Australian
+68
+1.8pp
Irish
+15
+0.1pp
Scottish
+32
+1.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+126
+6.3pp
German
+10
+0.4pp
Italian
+13
+0.6pp
Filipino
+9
+0.4pp
Dutch
+10
+0.5pp
Maltese
+13
+0.6pp
Data table
Ancestry for Maitland (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 | |
| English | 813 | 41.2% | 43.1% | 801 | 42.5% | 43.9% | +12 | -1.3pp |
| Australian | 769 | 39.0% | 44.3% | 701 | 37.2% | 45.6% | +68 | +1.8pp |
| Irish | 299 | 15.2% | 10.7% | 284 | 15.1% | 12.3% | +15 | +0.1pp |
| Scottish | 243 | 12.3% | 10.5% | 211 | 11.2% | 10.8% | +32 | +1.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 137 | 6.9% | 7.2% | 11 | 0.6% | 0.5% | +126 | +6.3pp |
| German | 88 | 4.5% | 4.3% | 78 | 4.1% | 4.7% | +10 | +0.4pp |
| Italian | 28 | 1.4% | 1.6% | 15 | 0.8% | 1.5% | +13 | +0.6pp |
| Filipino | 24 | 1.2% | 1.0% | 15 | 0.8% | 0.7% | +9 | +0.4pp |
| Dutch | 20 | 1.0% | 1.3% | 10 | 0.5% | 1.2% | +10 | +0.5pp |
| Maltese | 20 | 1.0% | 0.4% | 7 | 0.4% | 0.3% | +13 | +0.6pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).