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 Southend were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Southend - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Southend in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Wattle Range (DC) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Southend, with comparison markers for Wattle Range (DC).
English
2021 count
146
% of total
48.5%
Change from 2016
+6.3pp
146
48.5%
+6.3pp
Australian
2021 count
115
% of total
38.2%
Change from 2016
-13.9pp
115
38.2%
-13.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
46
% of total
15.3%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
46
15.3%
+1.2pp
Irish
2021 count
25
% of total
8.3%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
25
8.3%
+2.2pp
German
2021 count
19
% of total
6.3%
Change from 2016
-2.4pp
19
6.3%
-2.4pp
Italian
2021 count
19
% of total
6.3%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
19
6.3%
-0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+35
+6.3pp
Australian
-22
-13.9pp
Scottish
+9
+1.2pp
Irish
+9
+2.2pp
German
-4
-2.4pp
Italian
+2
-0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Southend. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Wattle Range (DC).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Wattle Range (DC)% | Count | % | Wattle Range (DC)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 146 | 48.5% | 42.6% | 111 | 42.2% | 41.0% | +35 | +6.3pp |
| Australian | 115 | 38.2% | 44.0% | 137 | 52.1% | 46.1% | -22 | -13.9pp |
| Scottish | 46 | 15.3% | 11.3% | 37 | 14.1% | 11.1% | +9 | +1.2pp |
| Irish | 25 | 8.3% | 8.8% | 16 | 6.1% | 8.5% | +9 | +2.2pp |
| German | 19 | 6.3% | 7.5% | 23 | 8.7% | 7.8% | -4 | -2.4pp |
| Italian | 19 | 6.3% | 2.9% | 17 | 6.5% | 2.9% | +2 | -0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).