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 Jamisontown were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Jamisontown - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Jamisontown in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Penrith (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Jamisontown, with comparison markers for Penrith (C).
English
2021 count
1,996
% of total
37.5%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
1,996
37.5%
-1.8pp
Australian
2021 count
1,984
% of total
37.3%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
1,984
37.3%
-0.5pp
Irish
2021 count
599
% of total
11.3%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
599
11.3%
-0.5pp
Scottish
2021 count
480
% of total
9.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
480
9.0%
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
220
% of total
4.1%
Change from 2016
+3.6pp
220
4.1%
+3.6pp
Italian
2021 count
187
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
187
3.5%
-0.3pp
German
2021 count
179
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
179
3.4%
-0.8pp
Indian
2021 count
103
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
103
1.9%
+0.1pp
Maltese
2021 count
102
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
102
1.9%
-0.2pp
Chinese
2021 count
96
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
96
1.8%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-165
-1.8pp
Australian
-95
-0.5pp
Irish
-49
-0.5pp
Scottish
-17
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
+195
+3.6pp
Italian
-22
-0.3pp
German
-53
-0.8pp
Indian
+3
+0.1pp
Maltese
-13
-0.2pp
Chinese
+10
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Jamisontown. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Penrith (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Penrith (C)% | Count | % | Penrith (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 1,996 | 37.5% | 30.2% | 2,161 | 39.3% | 33.3% | -165 | -1.8pp |
| Australian | 1,984 | 37.3% | 33.3% | 2,079 | 37.8% | 35.7% | -95 | -0.5pp |
| Irish | 599 | 11.3% | 8.2% | 648 | 11.8% | 9.8% | -49 | -0.5pp |
| Scottish | 480 | 9.0% | 6.7% | 497 | 9.0% | 7.4% | -17 | 0.0pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 220 | 4.1% | 4.6% | 25 | 0.5% | 0.6% | +195 | +3.6pp |
| Italian | 187 | 3.5% | 3.7% | 209 | 3.8% | 3.7% | -22 | -0.3pp |
| German | 179 | 3.4% | 2.9% | 232 | 4.2% | 3.3% | -53 | -0.8pp |
| Indian | 103 | 1.9% | 3.9% | 100 | 1.8% | 3.0% | +3 | +0.1pp |
| Maltese | 102 | 1.9% | 4.0% | 115 | 2.1% | 3.9% | -13 | -0.2pp |
| Chinese | 96 | 1.8% | 2.1% | 86 | 1.6% | 1.8% | +10 | +0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).