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 Grenfell were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Grenfell - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Grenfell in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Weddin (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Grenfell, with comparison markers for Weddin (A).
English
2021 count
1,220
% of total
46.9%
Change from 2016
+2.4pp
1,220
46.9%
+2.4pp
Australian
2021 count
1,164
% of total
44.8%
Change from 2016
-2.4pp
1,164
44.8%
-2.4pp
Irish
2021 count
323
% of total
12.4%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
323
12.4%
+1.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
249
% of total
9.6%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
249
9.6%
-0.9pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
109
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
-
109
4.2%
-
German
2021 count
95
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
95
3.7%
+0.6pp
Italian
2021 count
35
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
35
1.3%
+0.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
21
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
21
0.8%
-0.2pp
Filipino
2021 count
17
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
17
0.7%
+0.2pp
New Zealander
2021 count
16
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
16
0.6%
+0.4pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+75
+2.4pp
Australian
-50
-2.4pp
Irish
+30
+1.0pp
Scottish
-22
-0.9pp
German
+16
+0.6pp
Italian
+7
+0.2pp
Dutch
-5
-0.2pp
Filipino
+5
+0.2pp
New Zealander
+11
+0.4pp
Polish
+6
+0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Grenfell. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Weddin (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Weddin (A)% | Count | % | Weddin (A)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 1,220 | 46.9% | 45.8% | 1,145 | 44.5% | 43.3% | +75 | +2.4pp |
| Australian | 1,164 | 44.8% | 45.2% | 1,214 | 47.2% | 46.2% | -50 | -2.4pp |
| Irish | 323 | 12.4% | 12.5% | 293 | 11.4% | 11.5% | +30 | +1.0pp |
| Scottish | 249 | 9.6% | 10.9% | 271 | 10.5% | 11.0% | -22 | -0.9pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 109 | 4.2% | 4.2% | - | - | 0.2% | - | - |
| German | 95 | 3.7% | 3.8% | 79 | 3.1% | 3.1% | +16 | +0.6pp |
| Italian | 35 | 1.3% | 1.3% | 28 | 1.1% | 1.0% | +7 | +0.2pp |
| Dutch | 21 | 0.8% | 1.0% | 26 | 1.0% | 1.0% | -5 | -0.2pp |
| Filipino | 17 | 0.7% | 0.5% | 12 | 0.5% | 0.3% | +5 | +0.2pp |
| New Zealander | 16 | 0.6% | 0.6% | 5 | 0.2% | 0.3% | +11 | +0.4pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).