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 Leyburn (part) were Australian, English and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Leyburn (part) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Leyburn (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Southern Downs (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Leyburn (part), with comparison markers for Southern Downs (R).
Australian
2021 count
220
% of total
38.9%
Change from 2016
-2.7pp
220
38.9%
-2.7pp
English
2021 count
196
% of total
34.6%
Change from 2016
-4.1pp
196
34.6%
-4.1pp
Irish
2021 count
87
% of total
15.4%
Change from 2016
-2.5pp
87
15.4%
-2.5pp
Scottish
2021 count
56
% of total
9.9%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
56
9.9%
-0.8pp
German
2021 count
53
% of total
9.4%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
53
9.4%
+0.4pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
37
% of total
6.5%
Change from 2016
-
37
6.5%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+22
-2.7pp
English
+12
-4.1pp
Irish
+2
-2.5pp
Scottish
+5
-0.8pp
German
+10
+0.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for Leyburn (part). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Southern Downs (R).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Southern Downs (R)% | Count | % | Southern Downs (R)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 220 | 38.9% | 40.2% | 198 | 41.6% | 42.3% | +22 | -2.7pp |
| English | 196 | 34.6% | 41.2% | 184 | 38.7% | 41.1% | +12 | -4.1pp |
| Irish | 87 | 15.4% | 13.3% | 85 | 17.9% | 14.1% | +2 | -2.5pp |
| Scottish | 56 | 9.9% | 11.4% | 51 | 10.7% | 10.9% | +5 | -0.8pp |
| German | 53 | 9.4% | 6.9% | 43 | 9.0% | 7.3% | +10 | +0.4pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 37 | 6.5% | 4.9% | - | - | 0.5% | - | - |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).