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 Thornlands were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Thornlands - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Thornlands in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Redland (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Thornlands, with comparison markers for Redland (C).
English
2021 count
8,644
% of total
44.9%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
8,644
44.9%
-1.5pp
Australian
2021 count
6,904
% of total
35.8%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
6,904
35.8%
+0.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
2,335
% of total
12.1%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
2,335
12.1%
-0.3pp
Irish
2021 count
2,066
% of total
10.7%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
2,066
10.7%
-1.2pp
German
2021 count
1,080
% of total
5.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,080
5.6%
0.0pp
Italian
2021 count
535
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
535
2.8%
+0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
455
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
455
2.4%
+2.3pp
Dutch
2021 count
414
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
414
2.1%
+0.2pp
New Zealander
2021 count
345
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
345
1.8%
-0.2pp
South African
2021 count
327
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
327
1.7%
-0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+1,819
-1.5pp
Australian
+1,775
+0.9pp
Scottish
+509
-0.3pp
Irish
+315
-1.2pp
German
+251
0.0pp
Italian
+154
+0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
+438
+2.3pp
Dutch
+132
+0.2pp
New Zealander
+52
-0.2pp
South African
+44
-0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Thornlands. 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 | 8,644 | 44.9% | 45.1% | 6,825 | 46.4% | 45.4% | +1,819 | -1.5pp |
| Australian | 6,904 | 35.8% | 35.5% | 5,129 | 34.9% | 35.7% | +1,775 | +0.9pp |
| Scottish | 2,335 | 12.1% | 12.2% | 1,826 | 12.4% | 12.2% | +509 | -0.3pp |
| Irish | 2,066 | 10.7% | 12.1% | 1,751 | 11.9% | 12.7% | +315 | -1.2pp |
| German | 1,080 | 5.6% | 6.0% | 829 | 5.6% | 6.3% | +251 | 0.0pp |
| Italian | 535 | 2.8% | 2.5% | 381 | 2.6% | 2.4% | +154 | +0.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 455 | 2.4% | 2.8% | 17 | 0.1% | 0.3% | +438 | +2.3pp |
| Dutch | 414 | 2.1% | 2.2% | 282 | 1.9% | 2.0% | +132 | +0.2pp |
| New Zealander | 345 | 1.8% | 1.7% | 293 | 2.0% | 1.9% | +52 | -0.2pp |
| South African | 327 | 1.7% | 1.2% | 283 | 1.9% | 1.0% | +44 | -0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).