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 Meadows were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Seaford Meadows - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Seaford Meadows in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Onkaparinga (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Seaford Meadows, with comparison markers for Onkaparinga (C).
English
2021 count
2,481
% of total
24.4%
Change from 2016
+4.5pp
2,481
24.4%
+4.5pp
Australian
2021 count
2,072
% of total
20.4%
Change from 2016
+2.4pp
2,072
20.4%
+2.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
498
% of total
4.9%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
498
4.9%
-0.1pp
Irish
2021 count
401
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
401
3.9%
-1.7pp
German
2021 count
342
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
342
3.4%
+0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
159
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
159
1.6%
-0.7pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
129
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
129
1.3%
+1.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
117
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
117
1.2%
+0.6pp
Filipino
2021 count
83
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
83
0.8%
+0.5pp
Indian
2021 count
77
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
77
0.8%
+0.5pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+770
+4.5pp
Australian
+525
+2.4pp
Scottish
+65
-0.1pp
Irish
-79
-1.7pp
German
+70
+0.2pp
Italian
-38
-0.7pp
Australian Aboriginal
+109
+1.1pp
Dutch
+66
+0.6pp
Filipino
+54
+0.5pp
Indian
+51
+0.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Seaford Meadows. 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 | 2,481 | 24.4% | 24.2% | 1,711 | 19.9% | 23.9% | +770 | +4.5pp |
| Australian | 2,072 | 20.4% | 18.8% | 1,547 | 18.0% | 18.8% | +525 | +2.4pp |
| Scottish | 498 | 4.9% | 5.0% | 433 | 5.0% | 4.8% | +65 | -0.1pp |
| Irish | 401 | 3.9% | 4.2% | 480 | 5.6% | 4.3% | -79 | -1.7pp |
| German | 342 | 3.4% | 3.7% | 272 | 3.2% | 3.6% | +70 | +0.2pp |
| Italian | 159 | 1.6% | 1.4% | 197 | 2.3% | 1.3% | -38 | -0.7pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 129 | 1.3% | 0.9% | 20 | 0.2% | 0.1% | +109 | +1.1pp |
| Dutch | 117 | 1.2% | 1.2% | 51 | 0.6% | 1.1% | +66 | +0.6pp |
| Filipino | 83 | 0.8% | 0.5% | 29 | 0.3% | 0.4% | +54 | +0.5pp |
| Indian | 77 | 0.8% | 0.5% | 26 | 0.3% | 0.4% | +51 | +0.5pp |
| Total | 10,169 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 8,593 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1,576 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).