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
23.4%
Change from 2016
+7.3pp
2,978
23.4%
+7.3pp
Australian
2021 count
2,011
% of total
15.8%
Change from 2016
-3.7pp
2,011
15.8%
-3.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
856
% of total
6.7%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
856
6.7%
+1.5pp
Irish
2021 count
813
% of total
6.4%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
813
6.4%
+1.9pp
German
2021 count
363
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
-3.5pp
363
2.9%
-3.5pp
Chinese
2021 count
179
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-
179
1.4%
-
Dutch
2021 count
154
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-
154
1.2%
-
Italian
2021 count
154
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
154
1.2%
+0.1pp
South African
2021 count
146
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-
146
1.1%
-
New Zealander
2021 count
108
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-
108
0.8%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+2,935
+7.3pp
Australian
+1,959
-3.7pp
Scottish
+842
+1.5pp
Irish
+801
+1.9pp
German
+346
-3.5pp
Italian
+151
+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 | 23.4% | 22.5% | 43 | 16.1% | 22.7% | +2,935 | +7.3pp |
| Australian | 2,011 | 15.8% | 17.8% | 52 | 19.5% | 17.9% | +1,959 | -3.7pp |
| Scottish | 856 | 6.7% | 6.1% | 14 | 5.2% | 6.1% | +842 | +1.5pp |
| Irish | 813 | 6.4% | 6.0% | 12 | 4.5% | 6.3% | +801 | +1.9pp |
| German | 363 | 2.9% | 3.0% | 17 | 6.4% | 3.2% | +346 | -3.5pp |
| Chinese | 179 | 1.4% | 0.7% | - | - | 0.6% | - | - |
| Dutch | 154 | 1.2% | 1.1% | - | - | 1.0% | - | - |
| Italian | 154 | 1.2% | 1.3% | 3 | 1.1% | 1.2% | +151 | +0.1pp |
| South African | 146 | 1.1% | 0.6% | - | - | 0.5% | - | - |
| New Zealander | 108 | 0.8% | 0.8% | - | - | 1.0% | - | - |
| Total | 12,718 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 267 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +12,451 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).