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Mendocino County – Ancestry

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Ancestry refers to the lineage or descent of a person, family, or group, tracing back through generations to identify their origins, heritage, and familial connections. It encompasses the genetic, cultural, and historical ties that link individuals to their forebears, shaping their identity and sense of belonging. Ancestry is a multifaceted concept, intertwining biology, genealogy, history, and culture, and it plays a significant role in how people understand themselves and their place in the world.

At its core, ancestry is rooted in genetics. Each individual inherits a unique combination of DNA from their parents, who in turn inherited their DNA from their own ancestors. This genetic material carries information about physical traits, predispositions to certain health conditions, and even behavioral tendencies. Advances in genetic testing, such as DNA analysis, have made it possible for individuals to trace their biological ancestry with remarkable precision. Companies like 23andMe and AncestryDNA offer services that analyze genetic markers to provide insights into a person's ethnic composition and geographic origins, often revealing surprising connections to distant relatives or previously unknown heritage.

Beyond genetics, ancestry is deeply tied to genealogy, the study of family history and lineage. Genealogical research involves constructing family trees, documenting relationships, and uncovering historical records such as birth certificates, marriage licenses, census data, and immigration documents. This process often reveals stories of migration, resilience, and adaptation, offering a window into the lives of ancestors and the challenges they faced. For many, genealogy is a way to honor their forebears and preserve their legacy for future generations.

Cultural ancestry is another critical dimension, encompassing the traditions, languages, customs, and values passed down through generations. It connects individuals to their ethnic or national heritage, shaping their cultural identity and worldview. For example, someone with Irish ancestry might celebrate St. Patrick's Day, learn traditional Irish dance, or explore the Gaelic language, while someone with Japanese ancestry might practice tea ceremonies, study calligraphy, or observe Obon festivals. Cultural ancestry fosters a sense of continuity and belonging, linking individuals to a broader community with shared experiences and values.

Historical ancestry delves into the broader context of a family's or group's past, including significant events, social conditions, and historical movements that shaped their lives. For instance, the transatlantic slave trade, the Irish Potato Famine, or the Jewish diaspora have profoundly influenced the ancestry of millions of people, leaving lasting imprints on their descendants' identities. Understanding historical ancestry often involves grappling with complex narratives of triumph and tragedy, resilience and oppression, and the interplay of individual and collective experiences.

Ancestry also has a deeply personal and emotional dimension. For many, exploring their ancestry is a journey of self-discovery, offering insights into who they are and where they come from. It can foster a sense of pride, connection, and continuity, as well as a deeper appreciation for the struggles and achievements of those who came before. At the same time, it can raise questions about identity, belonging, and the complexities of heritage, particularly for individuals with mixed or multicultural backgrounds.

In a globalized world, ancestry serves as a bridge between the past and the present, connecting individuals to their roots while also highlighting the interconnectedness of human history. It underscores the diversity and richness of human experience, reminding us that every person's story is part of a larger tapestry woven over centuries. Whether through genetic testing, genealogical research, cultural practices, or historical exploration, ancestry offers a profound way to understand ourselves and our place in the world.

A diversification score measures the diversity of ancestries in the county. As the value appoaches 100, ancestry diversity decreases and therefore increasing the risk of a lack of cultural diversity. The ancestry diversification score for this county is:

13.56

Most common ancestry not including "Unknown" is:

Mexican

 
Ancestry Report Part I
DescriptionTotal Population American Native American Hawaiian Caribbean (Latino) Mexican Central American South American Other Hispanic African American Sub- Saharan Caribbean (Black)

Mendocino County88,9471,4453,1769639121,51345355475938521276
California (in 000's)39,74948215013836212,8611,4034027011,298462359
National (in 000's)343,25113,8902,21362611,32738,8796,1814,6443,68725,8937,8527,174
Sonoma County487,0467,9992,7361,5733,601118,6399,3383,2506,6343,6392,1151,314
Humboldt County131,6493,3336,7624061,10514,576682805824963275352
Lake County67,4422,1041,5848750613,477435278766747234242
Tehama County64,2023,8509928539216,2013442376923077561
Glenn County28,6481,195441329011,71214221310982224
Trinity County15,4572,1704012417745513824997766
 
Per Cent to Total PopulationDiversity
Index
 

Mendocino County13.561.623.570.110.4424.190.510.620.850.430.240.09
California14.271.210.380.350.9132.363.531.011.763.261.160.90
National7.834.050.640.183.3011.331.801.351.077.542.292.09
Sonoma County11.871.640.560.320.7424.361.920.671.360.750.430.27
Humboldt County10.222.535.140.310.8411.070.520.610.630.730.210.27
Lake County11.983.122.350.130.7519.980.640.411.141.110.350.36
Tehama County14.226.001.550.130.6125.230.540.371.080.480.120.10
Glenn County23.214.171.540.110.3140.880.500.071.080.340.080.08
Trinity County10.5814.042.590.161.152.940.890.160.640.500.040.04
 
Comparisons to State Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Mendocino County 133.86945.8231.1848.2374.7514.4361.5448.4113.2620.529.46
California 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00
National 333.42170.8052.71362.0635.0151.01133.6760.94231.08196.98231.42
Sonoma County 135.32148.8093.2981.1275.2954.3165.9377.2822.8937.3929.87
Humboldt County 208.601,360.5689.0892.0934.2214.6760.4135.5122.4117.9929.61
Lake County 257.05622.1437.2682.3261.7618.2740.7364.4433.9329.8839.73
Tehama County 494.10409.2838.2466.9977.9915.1836.4761.1514.6510.0610.52
Glenn County 343.69407.7632.2634.47126.3514.047.2461.3910.486.619.28
Trinity County 1,156.73687.2044.85125.649.1025.2915.3436.3415.263.344.30
 
Comparisons to National Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Mendocino County 40.15553.7759.1413.32213.5428.2846.0479.455.7410.424.09
California 29.9958.55189.7227.62285.66196.0474.81164.1143.2750.7743.21
National 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00
Sonoma County 40.5987.12176.9822.40215.06106.4749.32126.819.9018.9812.91
Humboldt County 62.56796.60169.0025.4497.7528.7745.2058.279.709.1312.79
Lake County 77.09364.2670.6922.74176.4335.8230.47105.7514.6815.1717.17
Tehama County 148.19239.6372.5518.50222.7929.7527.28100.356.345.114.55
Glenn County 103.08238.7461.219.52360.9427.535.42100.754.533.364.01
Trinity County 346.93402.3585.0934.7025.9949.5811.4859.636.601.701.86
 
Ancestry Report Part II
DescriptionTotal Population Canadian British Dutch French German Italian Polish Scandi­navian Scotish/ Irish Spanish Other European

Mendocino County88,9471085,3565419925,2592,1534672,9665,5414293,186
California (in 000's)39,749601,0821102191,1185571734251,133161796
National (in 000's)343,2511,35018,0691,8283,64224,7089,0274,6675,96920,6251,1409,563
Sonoma County487,0461,32929,4212,7036,70729,73619,2143,92613,16234,5774,62218,964
Humboldt County131,6493349,4889801,99310,1304,1811,1635,17910,9827365,549
Lake County67,4421024,9024519345,1841,9234061,6275,2335941,635
Tehama County64,202274,5083087633,5649722521,4004,4043941,040
Glenn County28,648627892071551,28445280351883117345
Trinity County15,457501,00069135950253306661,118116534
 
Per Cent to Total PopulationDiversity
Index
 

Mendocino County13.560.126.020.611.125.912.420.533.336.230.483.58
California14.270.152.720.280.552.811.400.431.072.850.402.00
National7.830.395.260.531.067.202.631.361.746.010.332.79
Sonoma County11.870.276.040.551.386.113.950.812.707.100.953.89
Humboldt County10.220.257.210.741.517.693.180.883.938.340.564.21
Lake County11.980.157.270.671.387.692.850.602.417.760.882.42
Tehama County14.220.047.020.481.195.551.510.392.186.860.611.62
Glenn County23.210.222.750.720.544.481.580.281.233.080.411.20
Trinity County10.580.326.470.450.876.151.640.194.317.230.753.45
 
Comparisons to State Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Mendocino County 80.54221.20220.47202.34210.23172.69120.91312.11218.53119.21178.79
California 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00
National 260.90193.38193.04192.49255.95187.63313.10162.76210.7882.11139.07
Sonoma County 180.99221.91201.17249.84217.09281.45185.63252.94249.04234.57194.36
Humboldt County 168.28264.75269.83274.65273.60226.58203.44368.22292.62138.19210.40
Lake County 100.32267.01242.40251.25273.32203.42138.63225.80272.19217.70121.01
Tehama County 27.89257.94173.89215.61197.39108.0190.39204.10240.63151.6980.86
Glenn County 143.55101.17261.9198.16159.37112.5664.31114.68108.12100.9560.11
Trinity County 214.56237.66161.81158.45218.54116.7744.70403.29253.72185.50172.45
 
Comparisons to National Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Mendocino County 30.87114.39114.21105.1282.1492.0438.62191.77103.68145.19128.56
California 38.3351.7151.8051.9539.0753.3031.9461.4447.44121.7971.90
National 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00
Sonoma County 69.37114.75104.21129.7984.82150.0059.29155.41118.15285.68139.75
Humboldt County 64.50136.91139.78142.69106.90120.7664.98226.24138.83168.30151.28
Lake County 38.45138.08125.57130.53106.78108.4244.28138.74129.13265.1487.01
Tehama County 10.69133.3990.08112.0177.1257.5728.87125.41114.16184.7458.14
Glenn County 55.0252.32135.6851.0062.2659.9920.5470.4651.30122.9443.22
Trinity County 82.24122.9083.8282.3285.3862.2414.28247.79120.38225.92124.00
 
Ancestry Report Part III
DescriptionTotal Population Chinese Filipino Japanese Korean Vietnamese South Central Asian South East Asian Other Asian Middle Eastern Other Ancestry Unknown

Mendocino County88,947655358114412126716521316717,23713,660
California (in 000's)39,7491,5551,2622654626619105623554225,9552,889
National (in 000's)343,2514,4613,0107931,5411,9135,4521,6431,2291,93147,32251,000
Sonoma County487,0464,4294,7491,4641,0963,1472,9192,9011,2562,36282,04355,481
Humboldt County131,6495965562291391803053041,36435022,34524,483
Lake County67,4421372549621112212015620812,38710,579
Tehama County64,202922637133117322631947412,3459,850
Glenn County28,6482857671596131186196,3082,839
Trinity County15,45746151301351,725112,4152,707
 
Per Cent to Total PopulationDiversity
Index
 

Mendocino County13.560.740.400.130.050.240.080.190.240.1919.3815.36
California14.273.913.180.671.161.662.291.410.891.0614.987.27
National7.831.300.880.230.450.561.590.480.360.5613.7914.86
Sonoma County11.870.910.980.300.230.650.600.600.260.4816.8511.39
Humboldt County10.220.450.420.170.110.140.230.231.040.2716.9718.60
Lake County11.980.200.380.140.030.020.030.180.230.3118.3715.69
Tehama County14.220.140.410.110.050.180.050.410.300.1219.2315.34
Glenn County23.210.990.270.250.020.340.050.410.020.0722.029.91
Trinity County10.580.300.100.010.020.000.010.2311.160.0715.6217.51
 
Comparisons to State Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Mendocino County 18.8212.6819.233.9614.333.2913.1226.7917.70129.36211.33
California 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00
National 33.2227.6234.6638.6133.5169.3733.8440.0853.0392.03204.45
Sonoma County 23.2430.7145.1019.3538.8526.1842.1228.8545.73112.45156.75
Humboldt County 11.5713.3026.109.088.2210.1216.33115.9325.07113.30255.91
Lake County 5.1911.8621.362.680.981.4212.5825.8829.08122.60215.85
Tehama County 3.6612.9016.594.4210.962.1828.9633.8110.87128.35211.12
Glenn County 25.438.3637.191.5020.151.9829.122.346.25146.98136.37
Trinity County 7.613.060.971.670.000.2816.011,248.696.71104.29240.99
 
Comparisons to National Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Mendocino County 56.6645.8955.4910.2742.774.7438.7666.8633.38140.57103.36
California 301.05362.04288.53259.02298.45144.16295.49249.53188.56108.6648.91
National 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00
Sonoma County 69.97111.18130.1350.11115.9437.73124.4572.0086.22122.1976.67
Humboldt County 34.8348.1675.3123.5124.5314.5948.25289.2847.27123.11125.17
Lake County 15.6342.9461.636.932.932.0537.1864.5854.83133.22105.57
Tehama County 11.0346.7147.8811.4532.703.1485.5984.3720.49139.47103.26
Glenn County 76.5530.25107.303.8960.132.8686.065.8511.79159.7166.70
Trinity County 22.9011.072.804.320.000.4147.313,115.8712.65113.33117.87


Sources: STI: PopStats, Circa April 2025