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 Bronte were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Bronte - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Bronte in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Waverley (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Bronte, with comparison markers for Waverley (A).
English
2021 count
2,798
% of total
39.0%
Change from 2016
+2.4pp
2,798
39.0%
+2.4pp
Australian
2021 count
2,004
% of total
28.0%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
2,004
28.0%
+0.6pp
Irish
2021 count
1,138
% of total
15.9%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
1,138
15.9%
-0.6pp
Scottish
2021 count
734
% of total
10.2%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
734
10.2%
-0.5pp
Italian
2021 count
360
% of total
5.0%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
360
5.0%
+0.4pp
German
2021 count
330
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
330
4.6%
+0.5pp
Greek
2021 count
226
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
226
3.2%
+0.5pp
Chinese
2021 count
187
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
187
2.6%
0.0pp
French
2021 count
170
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
170
2.4%
+0.3pp
Dutch
2021 count
111
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
111
1.5%
+0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+335
+2.4pp
Australian
+162
+0.6pp
Irish
+30
-0.6pp
Scottish
+13
-0.5pp
Italian
+50
+0.4pp
German
+52
+0.5pp
Greek
+43
+0.5pp
Chinese
+10
0.0pp
French
+28
+0.3pp
Dutch
+28
+0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Bronte. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Waverley (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Waverley (A)% | Count | % | Waverley (A)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 2,798 | 39.0% | 30.8% | 2,463 | 36.6% | 29.0% | +335 | +2.4pp |
| Australian | 2,004 | 28.0% | 21.3% | 1,842 | 27.4% | 20.9% | +162 | +0.6pp |
| Irish | 1,138 | 15.9% | 12.0% | 1,108 | 16.5% | 12.2% | +30 | -0.6pp |
| Scottish | 734 | 10.2% | 7.7% | 721 | 10.7% | 7.3% | +13 | -0.5pp |
| Italian | 360 | 5.0% | 5.7% | 310 | 4.6% | 5.0% | +50 | +0.4pp |
| German | 330 | 4.6% | 4.2% | 278 | 4.1% | 4.2% | +52 | +0.5pp |
| Greek | 226 | 3.2% | 2.6% | 183 | 2.7% | 2.3% | +43 | +0.5pp |
| Chinese | 187 | 2.6% | 3.7% | 177 | 2.6% | 3.2% | +10 | 0.0pp |
| French | 170 | 2.4% | 2.4% | 142 | 2.1% | 2.0% | +28 | +0.3pp |
| Dutch | 111 | 1.5% | 1.3% | 83 | 1.2% | 1.1% | +28 | +0.3pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).