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 Black Head were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Black Head - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Black Head in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mid-Coast (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Black Head, with comparison markers for Mid-Coast (A).
English
2021 count
468
% of total
48.1%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
468
48.1%
-0.9pp
Australian
2021 count
412
% of total
42.4%
Change from 2016
+3.6pp
412
42.4%
+3.6pp
Irish
2021 count
139
% of total
14.3%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
139
14.3%
+1.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
133
% of total
13.7%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
133
13.7%
-0.6pp
German
2021 count
35
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
35
3.6%
-1.7pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
29
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
-
29
3.0%
-
Italian
2021 count
16
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
16
1.6%
-1.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
11
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
11
1.1%
-0.5pp
Welsh
2021 count
10
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
10
1.0%
-1.1pp
Spanish
2021 count
10
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
10
1.0%
+0.6pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+51
-0.9pp
Australian
+82
+3.6pp
Irish
+26
+1.0pp
Scottish
+11
-0.6pp
German
-10
-1.7pp
Italian
-8
-1.2pp
Dutch
-3
-0.5pp
Welsh
-8
-1.1pp
Spanish
+7
+0.6pp
Data table
Ancestry for Black Head. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mid-Coast (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Mid-Coast (A)% | Count | % | Mid-Coast (A)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 468 | 48.1% | 43.9% | 417 | 49.0% | 44.1% | +51 | -0.9pp |
| Australian | 412 | 42.4% | 42.4% | 330 | 38.8% | 45.1% | +82 | +3.6pp |
| Irish | 139 | 14.3% | 11.0% | 113 | 13.3% | 10.9% | +26 | +1.0pp |
| Scottish | 133 | 13.7% | 10.8% | 122 | 14.3% | 10.6% | +11 | -0.6pp |
| German | 35 | 3.6% | 3.8% | 45 | 5.3% | 3.9% | -10 | -1.7pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 29 | 3.0% | 6.7% | - | - | 1.0% | - | - |
| Italian | 16 | 1.6% | 1.7% | 24 | 2.8% | 1.5% | -8 | -1.2pp |
| Dutch | 11 | 1.1% | 1.2% | 14 | 1.6% | 1.2% | -3 | -0.5pp |
| Welsh | 10 | 1.0% | 0.5% | 18 | 2.1% | 0.6% | -8 | -1.1pp |
| Spanish | 10 | 1.0% | 0.2% | 3 | 0.4% | 0.2% | +7 | +0.6pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).