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 Greymare were Australian, English and Irish.

Section overview

Ancestry - Ranked by size

Greymare - Total persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises ancestry for Greymare in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Southern Downs (R) and change since 2016.

Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Greymare, with comparison markers for Southern Downs (R).

Greymare
Southern Downs (R)

Australian

2021 count

41

% of total

58.6%

Change from 2016

+19.5pp

English

2021 count

24

% of total

34.3%

Change from 2016

-14.1pp

Irish

2021 count

18

% of total

25.7%

Change from 2016

+8.5pp

Australian Aboriginal

2021 count

10

% of total

14.3%

Change from 2016

-

Data table

Ancestry for Greymare. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Southern Downs (R).

Ancestry for Greymare. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Southern Downs (R).
Ancestry for Greymare. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Southern Downs (R).
Category20212016Change
Count%Southern Downs (R)%Count%Southern Downs (R)%Countpp
Australian4158.6%40.2%2539.1%42.3%+16+19.5pp
English2434.3%41.2%3148.4%41.1%-7-14.1pp
Irish1825.7%13.3%1117.2%14.1%+7+8.5pp
Australian Aboriginal1014.3%4.9%--0.5%--

Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).