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 Thorneside were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Thorneside - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Thorneside in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Redland (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Thorneside, with comparison markers for Redland (C).
English
2021 count
1,645
% of total
42.4%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
1,645
42.4%
-1.8pp
Australian
2021 count
1,522
% of total
39.3%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
1,522
39.3%
+1.4pp
Irish
2021 count
496
% of total
12.8%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
496
12.8%
-0.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
490
% of total
12.6%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
490
12.6%
-1.0pp
German
2021 count
273
% of total
7.0%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
273
7.0%
+0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
109
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
+2.5pp
109
2.8%
+2.5pp
Italian
2021 count
89
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
89
2.3%
+0.8pp
Dutch
2021 count
72
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
72
1.9%
+0.2pp
New Zealander
2021 count
66
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
66
1.7%
-0.6pp
Maori
2021 count
53
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
53
1.4%
-0.8pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-18
-1.8pp
Australian
+98
+1.4pp
Irish
-21
-0.9pp
Scottish
-23
-1.0pp
German
+19
+0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
+98
+2.5pp
Italian
+31
+0.8pp
Dutch
+7
+0.2pp
New Zealander
-20
-0.6pp
Maori
-30
-0.8pp
Data table
Ancestry for Thorneside. 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 | 1,645 | 42.4% | 45.1% | 1,663 | 44.2% | 45.4% | -18 | -1.8pp |
| Australian | 1,522 | 39.3% | 35.5% | 1,424 | 37.9% | 35.7% | +98 | +1.4pp |
| Irish | 496 | 12.8% | 12.1% | 517 | 13.7% | 12.7% | -21 | -0.9pp |
| Scottish | 490 | 12.6% | 12.2% | 513 | 13.6% | 12.2% | -23 | -1.0pp |
| German | 273 | 7.0% | 6.0% | 254 | 6.8% | 6.3% | +19 | +0.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 109 | 2.8% | 2.8% | 11 | 0.3% | 0.3% | +98 | +2.5pp |
| Italian | 89 | 2.3% | 2.5% | 58 | 1.5% | 2.4% | +31 | +0.8pp |
| Dutch | 72 | 1.9% | 2.2% | 65 | 1.7% | 2.0% | +7 | +0.2pp |
| New Zealander | 66 | 1.7% | 1.7% | 86 | 2.3% | 1.9% | -20 | -0.6pp |
| Maori | 53 | 1.4% | 1.5% | 83 | 2.2% | 1.3% | -30 | -0.8pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).