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 McLaren Flat were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
McLaren Flat - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for McLaren Flat in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Onkaparinga (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for McLaren Flat, with comparison markers for Onkaparinga (C).
English
2021 count
877
% of total
54.0%
Change from 2016
+2.1pp
877
54.0%
+2.1pp
Australian
2021 count
677
% of total
41.7%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
677
41.7%
-1.8pp
Scottish
2021 count
187
% of total
11.5%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
187
11.5%
+2.0pp
Irish
2021 count
139
% of total
8.6%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
139
8.6%
-0.6pp
German
2021 count
117
% of total
7.2%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
117
7.2%
+0.9pp
Italian
2021 count
69
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
69
4.2%
+0.8pp
Dutch
2021 count
25
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
25
1.5%
-0.1pp
Welsh
2021 count
20
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
20
1.2%
-0.4pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
16
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-
16
1.0%
-
Polish
2021 count
14
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
14
0.9%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+79
+2.1pp
Australian
+9
-1.8pp
Scottish
+41
+2.0pp
Irish
-3
-0.6pp
German
+20
+0.9pp
Italian
+16
+0.8pp
Dutch
+1
-0.1pp
Welsh
-4
-0.4pp
Polish
-1
-0.1pp
French
+8
+0.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for McLaren Flat. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Onkaparinga (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Onkaparinga (C)% | Count | % | Onkaparinga (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 877 | 54.0% | 48.5% | 798 | 51.9% | 47.8% | +79 | +2.1pp |
| Australian | 677 | 41.7% | 37.7% | 668 | 43.5% | 37.5% | +9 | -1.8pp |
| Scottish | 187 | 11.5% | 10.0% | 146 | 9.5% | 9.6% | +41 | +2.0pp |
| Irish | 139 | 8.6% | 8.5% | 142 | 9.2% | 8.7% | -3 | -0.6pp |
| German | 117 | 7.2% | 7.4% | 97 | 6.3% | 7.2% | +20 | +0.9pp |
| Italian | 69 | 4.2% | 2.9% | 53 | 3.4% | 2.7% | +16 | +0.8pp |
| Dutch | 25 | 1.5% | 2.4% | 24 | 1.6% | 2.2% | +1 | -0.1pp |
| Welsh | 20 | 1.2% | 1.1% | 24 | 1.6% | 1.0% | -4 | -0.4pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 16 | 1.0% | 1.9% | - | - | 0.2% | - | - |
| Polish | 14 | 0.9% | 1.2% | 15 | 1.0% | 1.1% | -1 | -0.1pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).