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 Tenterfield (A) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Tenterfield (A) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Tenterfield (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Tenterfield (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
English
2021 count
2,800
% of total
20.6%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
2,800
20.6%
+1.6pp
Australian
2021 count
2,520
% of total
18.5%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
2,520
18.5%
-1.6pp
Irish
2021 count
995
% of total
7.3%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
995
7.3%
+0.5pp
Scottish
2021 count
826
% of total
6.1%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
826
6.1%
+0.7pp
German
2021 count
494
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
494
3.6%
-0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
455
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
455
3.3%
+2.3pp
Italian
2021 count
143
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
143
1.1%
-0.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
88
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
88
0.6%
+0.1pp
Welsh
2021 count
43
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
43
0.3%
0.0pp
New Zealander
2021 count
32
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
32
0.2%
0.0pp
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+275
+1.6pp
Australian
-146
-1.6pp
Irish
+92
+0.5pp
Scottish
+104
+0.7pp
German
-6
-0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
+317
+2.3pp
Italian
-12
-0.1pp
Dutch
+21
+0.1pp
Welsh
+3
0.0pp
New Zealander
+7
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Tenterfield (A). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | pp | |
| English | 2,800 | 20.6% | 20.5% | 2,525 | 19.0% | 20.4% | +275 | +1.6pp |
| Australian | 2,520 | 18.5% | 20.1% | 2,666 | 20.1% | 21.3% | -146 | -1.6pp |
| Irish | 995 | 7.3% | 5.9% | 903 | 6.8% | 6.1% | +92 | +0.5pp |
| Scottish | 826 | 6.1% | 5.4% | 722 | 5.4% | 5.3% | +104 | +0.7pp |
| German | 494 | 3.6% | 2.1% | 500 | 3.8% | 2.1% | -6 | -0.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 455 | 3.3% | 3.1% | 138 | 1.0% | 0.4% | +317 | +2.3pp |
| Italian | 143 | 1.1% | 1.4% | 155 | 1.2% | 1.3% | -12 | -0.1pp |
| Dutch | 88 | 0.6% | 0.7% | 67 | 0.5% | 0.6% | +21 | +0.1pp |
| Welsh | 43 | 0.3% | 0.3% | 40 | 0.3% | 0.3% | +3 | 0.0pp |
| New Zealander | 32 | 0.2% | 0.3% | 25 | 0.2% | 0.3% | +7 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 13,605 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 13,267 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +338 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).