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 Tenambit were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Tenambit - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Tenambit in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Maitland (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Tenambit, with comparison markers for Maitland (C).
English
2021 count
1,426
% of total
46.2%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
1,426
46.2%
+1.6pp
Australian
2021 count
1,341
% of total
43.4%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
1,341
43.4%
-2.2pp
Irish
2021 count
376
% of total
12.2%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
376
12.2%
-1.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
360
% of total
11.7%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
360
11.7%
-0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
287
% of total
9.3%
Change from 2016
+8.5pp
287
9.3%
+8.5pp
German
2021 count
141
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
141
4.6%
-0.3pp
Polish
2021 count
45
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
45
1.5%
-0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
42
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
42
1.4%
+0.4pp
Dutch
2021 count
32
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
32
1.0%
+0.1pp
Maori
2021 count
24
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
24
0.8%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+133
+1.6pp
Australian
+19
-2.2pp
Irish
-19
-1.4pp
Scottish
+15
-0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
+264
+8.5pp
German
0
-0.3pp
Polish
-2
-0.1pp
Italian
+13
+0.4pp
Dutch
+5
+0.1pp
Maori
+8
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Tenambit. 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 | 1,426 | 46.2% | 43.1% | 1,293 | 44.6% | 43.9% | +133 | +1.6pp |
| Australian | 1,341 | 43.4% | 44.3% | 1,322 | 45.6% | 45.6% | +19 | -2.2pp |
| Irish | 376 | 12.2% | 10.7% | 395 | 13.6% | 12.3% | -19 | -1.4pp |
| Scottish | 360 | 11.7% | 10.5% | 345 | 11.9% | 10.8% | +15 | -0.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 287 | 9.3% | 7.2% | 23 | 0.8% | 0.5% | +264 | +8.5pp |
| German | 141 | 4.6% | 4.3% | 141 | 4.9% | 4.7% | 0 | -0.3pp |
| Polish | 45 | 1.5% | 1.0% | 47 | 1.6% | 1.0% | -2 | -0.1pp |
| Italian | 42 | 1.4% | 1.6% | 29 | 1.0% | 1.5% | +13 | +0.4pp |
| Dutch | 32 | 1.0% | 1.3% | 27 | 0.9% | 1.2% | +5 | +0.1pp |
| Maori | 24 | 0.8% | 0.5% | 16 | 0.6% | 0.5% | +8 | +0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).