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 Rocky River (Uralla - NSW) were Australian, English and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Rocky River (Uralla - NSW) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Rocky River (Uralla - NSW) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Uralla (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Rocky River (Uralla - NSW), with comparison markers for Uralla (A).
Australian
2021 count
114
% of total
19.9%
Change from 2016
+12.6pp
114
19.9%
+12.6pp
English
2021 count
104
% of total
18.2%
Change from 2016
+10.2pp
104
18.2%
+10.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
34
% of total
5.9%
Change from 2016
+4.0pp
34
5.9%
+4.0pp
Irish
2021 count
30
% of total
5.2%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
30
5.2%
+1.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
23
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
+3.9pp
23
4.0%
+3.9pp
German
2021 count
10
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
10
1.7%
+0.7pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-1,361
+12.6pp
English
-1,501
+10.2pp
Scottish
-349
+4.0pp
Irish
-805
+1.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
-1
+3.9pp
German
-198
+0.7pp
Data table
Ancestry for Rocky River (Uralla - NSW). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Uralla (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Uralla (A)% | Count | % | Uralla (A)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 114 | 19.9% | 21.9% | 1,475 | 7.3% | 24.6% | -1,361 | +12.6pp |
| English | 104 | 18.2% | 21.4% | 1,605 | 8.0% | 20.5% | -1,501 | +10.2pp |
| Scottish | 34 | 5.9% | 6.1% | 383 | 1.9% | 5.6% | -349 | +4.0pp |
| Irish | 30 | 5.2% | 7.0% | 835 | 4.1% | 6.2% | -805 | +1.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 23 | 4.0% | 4.4% | 24 | 0.1% | 0.2% | -1 | +3.9pp |
| German | 10 | 1.7% | 2.5% | 208 | 1.0% | 2.7% | -198 | +0.7pp |
| Total | 573 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 20,176 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -19,603 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).