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 Luddenham (part) were Australian, English and Italian.

Section overview

Ancestry - Ranked by size

Luddenham (part) - Total persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises ancestry for Luddenham (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Penrith (C) and change since 2016.

Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Luddenham (part), with comparison markers for Penrith (C).

Luddenham (part)
Penrith (C)

Australian

2021 count

641

% of total

33.3%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

English

2021 count

475

% of total

24.6%

Change from 2016

-2.9pp

Italian

2021 count

283

% of total

14.7%

Change from 2016

+0.5pp

Maltese

2021 count

191

% of total

9.9%

Change from 2016

+1.1pp

Irish

2021 count

117

% of total

6.1%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

Scottish

2021 count

108

% of total

5.6%

Change from 2016

-0.9pp

Croatian

2021 count

78

% of total

4.0%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Lebanese

2021 count

69

% of total

3.6%

Change from 2016

-0.6pp

Chinese

2021 count

45

% of total

2.3%

Change from 2016

+0.9pp

Australian Aboriginal

2021 count

44

% of total

2.3%

Change from 2016

-

Data table

Ancestry for Luddenham (part). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Penrith (C).

Ancestry for Luddenham (part). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Penrith (C).
Ancestry for Luddenham (part). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Penrith (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Penrith (C)%Count%Penrith (C)%Countpp
Australian64133.3%33.3%60232.9%35.7%+39+0.4pp
English47524.6%30.2%50327.5%33.3%-28-2.9pp
Italian28314.7%3.7%25914.2%3.7%+24+0.5pp
Maltese1919.9%4.0%1618.8%3.9%+30+1.1pp
Irish1176.1%8.2%1085.9%9.8%+9+0.2pp
Scottish1085.6%6.7%1196.5%7.4%-11-0.9pp
Croatian784.0%1.1%713.9%1.0%+7+0.1pp
Lebanese693.6%1.4%764.2%1.2%-7-0.6pp
Chinese452.3%2.1%261.4%1.8%+19+0.9pp
Australian Aboriginal442.3%4.6%--0.6%--

Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).