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 Leonay were Australian, English and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Leonay - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Leonay in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Penrith (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Leonay, with comparison markers for Penrith (C).
Australian
2021 count
1,020
% of total
39.5%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
1,020
39.5%
+0.4pp
English
2021 count
990
% of total
38.3%
Change from 2016
-2.7pp
990
38.3%
-2.7pp
Irish
2021 count
377
% of total
14.6%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
377
14.6%
+0.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
269
% of total
10.4%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
269
10.4%
-0.8pp
German
2021 count
129
% of total
5.0%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
129
5.0%
+0.4pp
Italian
2021 count
113
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
113
4.4%
+1.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
98
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
+3.4pp
98
3.8%
+3.4pp
Maltese
2021 count
71
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
71
2.7%
+1.3pp
Dutch
2021 count
55
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
55
2.1%
+0.7pp
Chinese
2021 count
42
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
42
1.6%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+35
+0.4pp
English
-43
-2.7pp
Irish
+19
+0.4pp
Scottish
-14
-0.8pp
German
+14
+0.4pp
Italian
+29
+1.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+89
+3.4pp
Maltese
+36
+1.3pp
Dutch
+21
+0.7pp
Chinese
+3
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Leonay. 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 | |
| Australian | 1,020 | 39.5% | 33.3% | 985 | 39.1% | 35.7% | +35 | +0.4pp |
| English | 990 | 38.3% | 30.2% | 1,033 | 41.0% | 33.3% | -43 | -2.7pp |
| Irish | 377 | 14.6% | 8.2% | 358 | 14.2% | 9.8% | +19 | +0.4pp |
| Scottish | 269 | 10.4% | 6.7% | 283 | 11.2% | 7.4% | -14 | -0.8pp |
| German | 129 | 5.0% | 2.9% | 115 | 4.6% | 3.3% | +14 | +0.4pp |
| Italian | 113 | 4.4% | 3.7% | 84 | 3.3% | 3.7% | +29 | +1.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 98 | 3.8% | 4.6% | 9 | 0.4% | 0.6% | +89 | +3.4pp |
| Maltese | 71 | 2.7% | 4.0% | 35 | 1.4% | 3.9% | +36 | +1.3pp |
| Dutch | 55 | 2.1% | 1.4% | 34 | 1.4% | 1.5% | +21 | +0.7pp |
| Chinese | 42 | 1.6% | 2.1% | 39 | 1.5% | 1.8% | +3 | +0.1pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).