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 Scotts Head were Australian, English and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Scotts Head - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Scotts Head in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Nambucca (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Scotts Head, with comparison markers for Nambucca (A).
Australian
2021 count
436
% of total
44.2%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
436
44.2%
-0.7pp
English
2021 count
429
% of total
43.5%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
429
43.5%
+0.6pp
Irish
2021 count
135
% of total
13.7%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
135
13.7%
-0.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
106
% of total
10.8%
Change from 2016
-2.7pp
106
10.8%
-2.7pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
61
% of total
6.2%
Change from 2016
+4.2pp
61
6.2%
+4.2pp
German
2021 count
44
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
44
4.5%
-0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
15
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
15
1.5%
-0.6pp
New Zealander
2021 count
11
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
11
1.1%
+0.7pp
Maori
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.
Australian
+32
-0.7pp
English
+43
+0.6pp
Irish
+9
-0.3pp
Scottish
-15
-2.7pp
Australian Aboriginal
+43
+4.2pp
German
+2
-0.2pp
Italian
-4
-0.6pp
New Zealander
+7
+0.7pp
Maori
+6
+0.6pp
Data table
Ancestry for Scotts Head. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Nambucca (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Nambucca (A)% | Count | % | Nambucca (A)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 436 | 44.2% | 41.0% | 404 | 44.9% | 44.8% | +32 | -0.7pp |
| English | 429 | 43.5% | 43.2% | 386 | 42.9% | 43.1% | +43 | +0.6pp |
| Irish | 135 | 13.7% | 11.6% | 126 | 14.0% | 11.6% | +9 | -0.3pp |
| Scottish | 106 | 10.8% | 11.2% | 121 | 13.5% | 10.5% | -15 | -2.7pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 61 | 6.2% | 7.4% | 18 | 2.0% | 1.8% | +43 | +4.2pp |
| German | 44 | 4.5% | 4.0% | 42 | 4.7% | 3.9% | +2 | -0.2pp |
| Italian | 15 | 1.5% | 1.8% | 19 | 2.1% | 1.5% | -4 | -0.6pp |
| New Zealander | 11 | 1.1% | 0.6% | 4 | 0.4% | 0.7% | +7 | +0.7pp |
| Maori | 10 | 1.0% | 0.4% | 4 | 0.4% | 0.4% | +6 | +0.6pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).