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 Queenscliffe (B) were English, Australian and Irish.

Section overview

Ancestry - Ranked by size

Queenscliffe (B) - Total persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises ancestry for Queenscliffe (B) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.

Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Queenscliffe (B), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..

Queenscliffe (B)
Regional Vic.

English

2021 count

1,598

% of total

24.5%

Change from 2016

+0.9pp

Australian

2021 count

1,128

% of total

17.3%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

Irish

2021 count

605

% of total

9.3%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Scottish

2021 count

572

% of total

8.8%

Change from 2016

+0.6pp

German

2021 count

115

% of total

1.8%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Italian

2021 count

100

% of total

1.5%

Change from 2016

+0.5pp

Dutch

2021 count

51

% of total

0.8%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

Welsh

2021 count

28

% of total

0.4%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

Greek

2021 count

25

% of total

0.4%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

French

2021 count

23

% of total

0.4%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

Data table

Ancestry for Queenscliffe (B). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..

Ancestry for Queenscliffe (B). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
Ancestry for Queenscliffe (B). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional Vic.%Count%Regional Vic.%Countpp
English1,59824.5%20.3%1,34323.6%20.0%+255+0.9pp
Australian1,12817.3%19.6%97117.0%20.0%+157+0.3pp
Irish6059.3%6.4%5309.3%6.5%+750.0pp
Scottish5728.8%5.8%4668.2%5.7%+106+0.6pp
German1151.8%2.3%1061.9%2.3%+9-0.1pp
Italian1001.5%1.9%561.0%1.8%+44+0.5pp
Dutch510.8%1.1%360.6%1.1%+15+0.2pp
Welsh280.4%0.3%140.2%0.3%+14+0.2pp
Greek250.4%0.3%120.2%0.3%+13+0.2pp
French230.4%0.2%70.1%0.2%+16+0.3pp
Total6,526100.0%100.0%5,698100.0%100.0%+8280.0pp

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