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 Morpeth were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Morpeth - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Morpeth in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Maitland (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Morpeth, with comparison markers for Maitland (C).
English
2021 count
817
% of total
48.5%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
817
48.5%
+1.2pp
Australian
2021 count
690
% of total
40.9%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
690
40.9%
-0.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
261
% of total
15.5%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
261
15.5%
-0.6pp
Irish
2021 count
237
% of total
14.1%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
237
14.1%
-2.2pp
German
2021 count
92
% of total
5.5%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
92
5.5%
+0.5pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
77
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
+4.2pp
77
4.6%
+4.2pp
Welsh
2021 count
22
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
22
1.3%
+0.5pp
Italian
2021 count
21
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
21
1.2%
+0.3pp
Polish
2021 count
17
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
17
1.0%
+0.6pp
Danish
2021 count
14
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-
14
0.8%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+153
+1.2pp
Australian
+115
-0.1pp
Scottish
+35
-0.6pp
Irish
+8
-2.2pp
German
+22
+0.5pp
Australian Aboriginal
+72
+4.2pp
Welsh
+11
+0.5pp
Italian
+9
+0.3pp
Polish
+11
+0.6pp
New Zealander
-7
-0.6pp
Data table
Ancestry for Morpeth. 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 | 817 | 48.5% | 43.1% | 664 | 47.3% | 43.9% | +153 | +1.2pp |
| Australian | 690 | 40.9% | 44.3% | 575 | 41.0% | 45.6% | +115 | -0.1pp |
| Scottish | 261 | 15.5% | 10.5% | 226 | 16.1% | 10.8% | +35 | -0.6pp |
| Irish | 237 | 14.1% | 10.7% | 229 | 16.3% | 12.3% | +8 | -2.2pp |
| German | 92 | 5.5% | 4.3% | 70 | 5.0% | 4.7% | +22 | +0.5pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 77 | 4.6% | 7.2% | 5 | 0.4% | 0.5% | +72 | +4.2pp |
| Welsh | 22 | 1.3% | 0.8% | 11 | 0.8% | 0.8% | +11 | +0.5pp |
| Italian | 21 | 1.2% | 1.6% | 12 | 0.9% | 1.5% | +9 | +0.3pp |
| Polish | 17 | 1.0% | 1.0% | 6 | 0.4% | 1.0% | +11 | +0.6pp |
| Danish | 14 | 0.8% | 0.2% | - | - | 0.2% | - | - |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).