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 Maddingley were Australian, English and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Maddingley - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Maddingley in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Moorabool (S) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Maddingley, with comparison markers for Moorabool (S).
Australian
2021 count
2,046
% of total
37.3%
Change from 2016
-4.0pp
2,046
37.3%
-4.0pp
English
2021 count
1,967
% of total
35.8%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
1,967
35.8%
-1.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
542
% of total
9.9%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
542
9.9%
-0.2pp
Irish
2021 count
540
% of total
9.8%
Change from 2016
-3.9pp
540
9.8%
-3.9pp
Indian
2021 count
263
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
+3.2pp
263
4.8%
+3.2pp
Italian
2021 count
251
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
251
4.6%
+0.3pp
German
2021 count
215
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
215
3.9%
0.0pp
Punjabi
2021 count
197
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
+3.4pp
197
3.6%
+3.4pp
Maltese
2021 count
186
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
186
3.4%
+0.5pp
Dutch
2021 count
101
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
101
1.8%
-0.4pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+620
-4.0pp
English
+683
-1.4pp
Scottish
+193
-0.2pp
Irish
+66
-3.9pp
Indian
+207
+3.2pp
Italian
+104
+0.3pp
German
+80
0.0pp
Punjabi
+191
+3.4pp
Maltese
+87
+0.5pp
Dutch
+24
-0.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for Maddingley. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Moorabool (S).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Moorabool (S)% | Count | % | Moorabool (S)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 2,046 | 37.3% | 39.2% | 1,426 | 41.3% | 39.9% | +620 | -4.0pp |
| English | 1,967 | 35.8% | 38.8% | 1,284 | 37.2% | 39.4% | +683 | -1.4pp |
| Scottish | 542 | 9.9% | 11.4% | 349 | 10.1% | 11.2% | +193 | -0.2pp |
| Irish | 540 | 9.8% | 13.2% | 474 | 13.7% | 14.5% | +66 | -3.9pp |
| Indian | 263 | 4.8% | 1.8% | 56 | 1.6% | 0.7% | +207 | +3.2pp |
| Italian | 251 | 4.6% | 3.9% | 147 | 4.3% | 3.8% | +104 | +0.3pp |
| German | 215 | 3.9% | 4.3% | 135 | 3.9% | 4.5% | +80 | 0.0pp |
| Punjabi | 197 | 3.6% | 0.9% | 6 | 0.2% | 0.1% | +191 | +3.4pp |
| Maltese | 186 | 3.4% | 3.9% | 99 | 2.9% | 3.4% | +87 | +0.5pp |
| Dutch | 101 | 1.8% | 2.3% | 77 | 2.2% | 2.1% | +24 | -0.4pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).