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 Seaford Heights were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Seaford Heights - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Seaford Heights in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Onkaparinga (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Seaford Heights, with comparison markers for Onkaparinga (C).
English
2021 count
556
% of total
51.5%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
556
51.5%
+0.6pp
Australian
2021 count
387
% of total
35.9%
Change from 2016
-13.2pp
387
35.9%
-13.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
95
% of total
8.8%
Change from 2016
-10.1pp
95
8.8%
-10.1pp
Irish
2021 count
79
% of total
7.3%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
79
7.3%
-0.2pp
German
2021 count
50
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
-2.9pp
50
4.6%
-2.9pp
Italian
2021 count
40
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
-
40
3.7%
-
Indian
2021 count
34
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
-
34
3.2%
-
Dutch
2021 count
24
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
-
24
2.2%
-
Filipino
2021 count
24
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
-
24
2.2%
-
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
17
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-
17
1.6%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+529
+0.6pp
Australian
+361
-13.2pp
Scottish
+85
-10.1pp
Irish
+75
-0.2pp
German
+46
-2.9pp
Data table
Ancestry for Seaford Heights. 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 | 556 | 51.5% | 48.5% | 27 | 50.9% | 47.8% | +529 | +0.6pp |
| Australian | 387 | 35.9% | 37.7% | 26 | 49.1% | 37.5% | +361 | -13.2pp |
| Scottish | 95 | 8.8% | 10.0% | 10 | 18.9% | 9.6% | +85 | -10.1pp |
| Irish | 79 | 7.3% | 8.5% | 4 | 7.5% | 8.7% | +75 | -0.2pp |
| German | 50 | 4.6% | 7.4% | 4 | 7.5% | 7.2% | +46 | -2.9pp |
| Italian | 40 | 3.7% | 2.9% | - | - | 2.7% | - | - |
| Indian | 34 | 3.2% | 0.9% | - | - | 0.8% | - | - |
| Dutch | 24 | 2.2% | 2.4% | - | - | 2.2% | - | - |
| Filipino | 24 | 2.2% | 1.0% | - | - | 0.8% | - | - |
| Australian Aboriginal | 17 | 1.6% | 1.9% | - | - | 0.2% | - | - |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).