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 Rise were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Seaford Rise - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Seaford Rise in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Onkaparinga (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Seaford Rise, with comparison markers for Onkaparinga (C).
English
2021 count
3,187
% of total
52.2%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
3,187
52.2%
-0.7pp
Australian
2021 count
2,287
% of total
37.5%
Change from 2016
+3.0pp
2,287
37.5%
+3.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
632
% of total
10.4%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
632
10.4%
+0.8pp
Irish
2021 count
491
% of total
8.0%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
491
8.0%
-1.2pp
German
2021 count
400
% of total
6.6%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
400
6.6%
+0.7pp
Italian
2021 count
158
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
158
2.6%
0.0pp
Dutch
2021 count
124
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
124
2.0%
+0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
119
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
119
1.9%
+1.6pp
Welsh
2021 count
85
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
85
1.4%
+0.1pp
South African
2021 count
69
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
69
1.1%
+0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-38
-0.7pp
Australian
+186
+3.0pp
Scottish
+44
+0.8pp
Irish
-72
-1.2pp
German
+38
+0.7pp
Italian
0
0.0pp
Dutch
+23
+0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
+103
+1.6pp
Welsh
+3
+0.1pp
South African
+19
+0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Seaford Rise. 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 | 3,187 | 52.2% | 48.5% | 3,225 | 52.9% | 47.8% | -38 | -0.7pp |
| Australian | 2,287 | 37.5% | 37.7% | 2,101 | 34.5% | 37.5% | +186 | +3.0pp |
| Scottish | 632 | 10.4% | 10.0% | 588 | 9.6% | 9.6% | +44 | +0.8pp |
| Irish | 491 | 8.0% | 8.5% | 563 | 9.2% | 8.7% | -72 | -1.2pp |
| German | 400 | 6.6% | 7.4% | 362 | 5.9% | 7.2% | +38 | +0.7pp |
| Italian | 158 | 2.6% | 2.9% | 158 | 2.6% | 2.7% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| Dutch | 124 | 2.0% | 2.4% | 101 | 1.7% | 2.2% | +23 | +0.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 119 | 1.9% | 1.9% | 16 | 0.3% | 0.2% | +103 | +1.6pp |
| Welsh | 85 | 1.4% | 1.1% | 82 | 1.3% | 1.0% | +3 | +0.1pp |
| South African | 69 | 1.1% | 0.5% | 50 | 0.8% | 0.4% | +19 | +0.3pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).