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 (SA) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Seaford (SA) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Seaford (SA) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Onkaparinga (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Seaford (SA), with comparison markers for Onkaparinga (C).
English
2021 count
2,352
% of total
52.3%
Change from 2016
+3.0pp
2,352
52.3%
+3.0pp
Australian
2021 count
1,653
% of total
36.8%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
1,653
36.8%
-0.8pp
Scottish
2021 count
470
% of total
10.5%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
470
10.5%
+1.9pp
Irish
2021 count
401
% of total
8.9%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
401
8.9%
+1.3pp
German
2021 count
298
% of total
6.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
298
6.6%
+0.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
124
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
124
2.8%
-0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
94
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
94
2.1%
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
78
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
78
1.7%
+1.5pp
Welsh
2021 count
53
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
53
1.2%
-0.3pp
Polish
2021 count
44
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
44
1.0%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+160
+3.0pp
Australian
-19
-0.8pp
Scottish
+89
+1.9pp
Irish
+65
+1.3pp
German
+12
+0.2pp
Dutch
-8
-0.2pp
Italian
+2
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
+67
+1.5pp
Welsh
-15
-0.3pp
Polish
+7
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Seaford (SA). 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 | 2,352 | 52.3% | 48.5% | 2,192 | 49.3% | 47.8% | +160 | +3.0pp |
| Australian | 1,653 | 36.8% | 37.7% | 1,672 | 37.6% | 37.5% | -19 | -0.8pp |
| Scottish | 470 | 10.5% | 10.0% | 381 | 8.6% | 9.6% | +89 | +1.9pp |
| Irish | 401 | 8.9% | 8.5% | 336 | 7.6% | 8.7% | +65 | +1.3pp |
| German | 298 | 6.6% | 7.4% | 286 | 6.4% | 7.2% | +12 | +0.2pp |
| Dutch | 124 | 2.8% | 2.4% | 132 | 3.0% | 2.2% | -8 | -0.2pp |
| Italian | 94 | 2.1% | 2.9% | 92 | 2.1% | 2.7% | +2 | 0.0pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 78 | 1.7% | 1.9% | 11 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +67 | +1.5pp |
| Welsh | 53 | 1.2% | 1.1% | 68 | 1.5% | 1.0% | -15 | -0.3pp |
| Polish | 44 | 1.0% | 1.2% | 37 | 0.8% | 1.1% | +7 | +0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).