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 Williams (S) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Williams (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Williams (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Williams (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
English
2021 count
459
% of total
22.3%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
459
22.3%
+0.4pp
Australian
2021 count
456
% of total
22.2%
Change from 2016
-2.4pp
456
22.2%
-2.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
115
% of total
5.6%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
115
5.6%
+0.5pp
Irish
2021 count
89
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
89
4.3%
-0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
42
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
42
2.0%
+0.9pp
German
2021 count
38
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
38
1.9%
-0.2pp
South African
2021 count
13
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
13
0.6%
+0.3pp
New Zealander
2021 count
11
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
11
0.5%
0.0pp
Welsh
2021 count
11
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
11
0.5%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+34
+0.4pp
Australian
-23
-2.4pp
Scottish
+16
+0.5pp
Irish
+3
-0.1pp
Italian
+20
+0.9pp
German
-2
-0.2pp
South African
+7
+0.3pp
New Zealander
+1
0.0pp
Welsh
+3
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Williams (S). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | pp | |
| English | 459 | 22.3% | 20.0% | 425 | 21.9% | 19.7% | +34 | +0.4pp |
| Australian | 456 | 22.2% | 18.2% | 479 | 24.6% | 19.9% | -23 | -2.4pp |
| Scottish | 115 | 5.6% | 4.5% | 99 | 5.1% | 4.4% | +16 | +0.5pp |
| Irish | 89 | 4.3% | 4.3% | 86 | 4.4% | 4.3% | +3 | -0.1pp |
| Italian | 42 | 2.0% | 1.9% | 22 | 1.1% | 1.8% | +20 | +0.9pp |
| German | 38 | 1.9% | 1.7% | 40 | 2.1% | 1.7% | -2 | -0.2pp |
| South African | 13 | 0.6% | 0.4% | 6 | 0.3% | 0.4% | +7 | +0.3pp |
| New Zealander | 11 | 0.5% | 0.6% | 10 | 0.5% | 0.6% | +1 | 0.0pp |
| Welsh | 11 | 0.5% | 0.4% | 8 | 0.4% | 0.4% | +3 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 2,054 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1,944 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +110 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).