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 Northampton were English, Australian and Australian Aboriginal.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Northampton - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Northampton in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Northampton (S) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Northampton, with comparison markers for Northampton (S).
English
2021 count
345
% of total
41.6%
Change from 2016
-2.7pp
345
41.6%
-2.7pp
Australian
2021 count
317
% of total
38.2%
Change from 2016
-10.8pp
317
38.2%
-10.8pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
80
% of total
9.6%
Change from 2016
-
80
9.6%
-
Irish
2021 count
79
% of total
9.5%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
79
9.5%
-0.8pp
Scottish
2021 count
71
% of total
8.6%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
71
8.6%
+0.7pp
German
2021 count
24
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
24
2.9%
-1.2pp
Italian
2021 count
19
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
19
2.3%
+1.2pp
Welsh
2021 count
12
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
12
1.4%
+0.5pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-15
-2.7pp
Australian
-81
-10.8pp
Irish
-5
-0.8pp
Scottish
+7
+0.7pp
German
-9
-1.2pp
Italian
+10
+1.2pp
Welsh
+5
+0.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Northampton. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Northampton (S).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Northampton (S)% | Count | % | Northampton (S)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 345 | 41.6% | 43.2% | 360 | 44.3% | 43.0% | -15 | -2.7pp |
| Australian | 317 | 38.2% | 38.1% | 398 | 49.0% | 45.9% | -81 | -10.8pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 80 | 9.6% | 5.4% | - | - | 0.8% | - | - |
| Irish | 79 | 9.5% | 8.2% | 84 | 10.3% | 8.5% | -5 | -0.8pp |
| Scottish | 71 | 8.6% | 9.6% | 64 | 7.9% | 9.4% | +7 | +0.7pp |
| German | 24 | 2.9% | 4.2% | 33 | 4.1% | 4.2% | -9 | -1.2pp |
| Italian | 19 | 2.3% | 2.4% | 9 | 1.1% | 2.0% | +10 | +1.2pp |
| Welsh | 12 | 1.4% | 0.8% | 7 | 0.9% | 1.1% | +5 | +0.5pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).