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 Somerset (R) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Somerset (R) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Somerset (R) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Brisbane and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Somerset (R), with comparison markers for Greater Brisbane.
English
2021 count
10,387
% of total
20.7%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
10,387
20.7%
+1.2pp
Australian
2021 count
10,217
% of total
20.4%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
10,217
20.4%
-1.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
2,687
% of total
5.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
2,687
5.4%
+0.1pp
German
2021 count
2,550
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
2,550
5.1%
-0.2pp
Irish
2021 count
2,540
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
2,540
5.1%
+0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
1,084
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+2.1pp
1,084
2.2%
+2.1pp
Filipino
2021 count
668
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
668
1.3%
+0.5pp
Dutch
2021 count
426
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
426
0.8%
0.0pp
Italian
2021 count
323
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
323
0.6%
0.0pp
New Zealander
2021 count
248
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
248
0.5%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+788
+1.2pp
Australian
-526
-1.4pp
Scottish
+66
+0.1pp
German
-62
-0.2pp
Irish
+115
+0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
+1,013
+2.1pp
Filipino
+280
+0.5pp
Dutch
+40
0.0pp
Italian
+48
0.0pp
New Zealander
0
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Somerset (R). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Brisbane.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Brisbane% | Count | % | Greater Brisbane% | Count | pp | |
| English | 10,387 | 20.7% | 18.2% | 9,599 | 19.5% | 18.5% | +788 | +1.2pp |
| Australian | 10,217 | 20.4% | 15.8% | 10,743 | 21.8% | 16.2% | -526 | -1.4pp |
| Scottish | 2,687 | 5.4% | 5.0% | 2,621 | 5.3% | 5.2% | +66 | +0.1pp |
| German | 2,550 | 5.1% | 2.8% | 2,612 | 5.3% | 3.0% | -62 | -0.2pp |
| Irish | 2,540 | 5.1% | 5.6% | 2,425 | 4.9% | 6.2% | +115 | +0.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 1,084 | 2.2% | 1.4% | 71 | 0.1% | 0.2% | +1,013 | +2.1pp |
| Filipino | 668 | 1.3% | 0.8% | 388 | 0.8% | 0.6% | +280 | +0.5pp |
| Dutch | 426 | 0.8% | 0.8% | 386 | 0.8% | 0.8% | +40 | 0.0pp |
| Italian | 323 | 0.6% | 1.4% | 275 | 0.6% | 1.3% | +48 | 0.0pp |
| New Zealander | 248 | 0.5% | 0.7% | 248 | 0.5% | 0.8% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 50,120 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 49,180 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +940 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).