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 Ormiston were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Ormiston - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Ormiston in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Redland (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Ormiston, with comparison markers for Redland (C).
English
2021 count
2,978
% of total
46.7%
Change from 2016
-3.4pp
2,978
46.7%
-3.4pp
Australian
2021 count
2,011
% of total
31.5%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
2,011
31.5%
+0.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
856
% of total
13.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
856
13.4%
+0.3pp
Irish
2021 count
813
% of total
12.7%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
813
12.7%
-1.3pp
German
2021 count
363
% of total
5.7%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
363
5.7%
-1.1pp
Chinese
2021 count
179
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
179
2.8%
+1.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
154
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
154
2.4%
+0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
154
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
154
2.4%
0.0pp
South African
2021 count
146
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
146
2.3%
+0.3pp
New Zealander
2021 count
108
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
108
1.7%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+77
-3.4pp
Australian
+221
+0.6pp
Scottish
+96
+0.3pp
Irish
+4
-1.3pp
German
-30
-1.1pp
Chinese
+87
+1.2pp
Dutch
+24
+0.2pp
Italian
+16
0.0pp
South African
+31
+0.3pp
New Zealander
+17
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Ormiston. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Redland (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Redland (C)% | Count | % | Redland (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 2,978 | 46.7% | 45.1% | 2,901 | 50.1% | 45.4% | +77 | -3.4pp |
| Australian | 2,011 | 31.5% | 35.5% | 1,790 | 30.9% | 35.7% | +221 | +0.6pp |
| Scottish | 856 | 13.4% | 12.2% | 760 | 13.1% | 12.2% | +96 | +0.3pp |
| Irish | 813 | 12.7% | 12.1% | 809 | 14.0% | 12.7% | +4 | -1.3pp |
| German | 363 | 5.7% | 6.0% | 393 | 6.8% | 6.3% | -30 | -1.1pp |
| Chinese | 179 | 2.8% | 1.5% | 92 | 1.6% | 1.2% | +87 | +1.2pp |
| Dutch | 154 | 2.4% | 2.2% | 130 | 2.2% | 2.0% | +24 | +0.2pp |
| Italian | 154 | 2.4% | 2.5% | 138 | 2.4% | 2.4% | +16 | 0.0pp |
| South African | 146 | 2.3% | 1.2% | 115 | 2.0% | 1.0% | +31 | +0.3pp |
| New Zealander | 108 | 1.7% | 1.7% | 91 | 1.6% | 1.9% | +17 | +0.1pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).