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Forsyth 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:

9.44

Most common ancestry not including "Unknown" is:

South Central Asian

 
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)

Forsyth County282,81013,930469844,76914,0163,7204,9299117,3442,6871,425
Georgia (in 000's)11,288641216209627187116512,374539501
National (in 000's)343,25113,8902,21362611,32738,8796,1814,6443,68725,8937,8527,174
Fulton County1,098,52421,9831,64737517,86038,3339,46216,1934,588321,84273,66068,479
Gwinnett County1,018,53322,0351,56240936,252105,83546,35133,35310,692190,74347,92238,068
Cherokee County298,56719,3764961025,35117,4267,7384,61986214,0933,2722,504
Hall County224,97715,653362943,96844,01310,1662,4081,5489,9822,9072,460
Dawson County35,3193,84072214351,190170471302579680
 
Per Cent to Total PopulationDiversity
Index
 

Forsyth County9.444.930.170.031.694.961.321.740.322.600.950.50
Georgia10.995.680.180.061.855.561.651.030.4621.034.774.44
National7.834.050.640.183.3011.331.801.351.077.542.292.09
Fulton County12.832.000.150.031.633.490.861.470.4229.306.716.23
Gwinnett County8.852.160.150.043.5610.394.553.271.0518.734.713.74
Cherokee County10.776.490.170.031.795.842.591.550.294.721.100.84
Hall County12.016.960.160.041.7619.564.521.070.694.441.291.09
Dawson County15.9510.870.200.061.233.370.481.330.080.730.270.23
 
Comparisons to State Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Forsyth County 86.7089.7952.6091.1289.2179.60169.5470.6412.3519.9011.35
Georgia 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00
National 71.23349.10323.17178.32203.89108.98131.61235.5535.8747.9247.08
Fulton County 35.2281.1760.4587.8662.8152.12143.3991.59139.31140.46140.42
Gwinnett County 38.0883.0371.11192.33187.04275.39318.53230.2289.0598.5584.19
Cherokee County 114.2389.9460.5096.85105.06156.84150.4963.3222.4522.9618.89
Hall County 122.4787.1273.9995.31352.15273.45104.12150.9021.1027.0724.63
Dawson County 191.37110.37105.3066.5560.6529.13129.7218.633.465.695.10
 
Comparisons to National Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Forsyth County 121.7225.7216.2851.1043.7673.04128.8229.9934.4241.5324.11
Georgia 140.3928.6530.9456.0849.0591.7675.9842.45278.78208.70212.40
National 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00
Fulton County 49.4523.2518.7149.2730.8147.83108.9538.88388.38293.13298.25
Gwinnett County 53.4623.7822.01107.8691.74252.71242.0397.73248.25205.68178.82
Cherokee County 160.3725.7618.7254.3151.53143.92114.3526.8862.5747.9140.13
Hall County 171.9324.9522.9053.45172.72250.9379.1164.0658.8256.4952.32
Dawson County 268.6731.6232.5837.3229.7526.7398.577.919.6511.8810.84
 
Ancestry Report Part II
DescriptionTotal Population Canadian British Dutch French German Italian Polish Scandi­navian Scotish/ Irish Spanish Other European

Forsyth County282,81080023,1681,1772,51614,8507,1902,8232,83518,4648488,052
Georgia (in 000's)11,288186182758339116506253118179
National (in 000's)343,2511,35018,0691,8283,64224,7089,0274,6675,96920,6251,1409,563
Fulton County1,098,5242,08051,3682,2036,92433,60914,7936,5657,51443,0652,67325,216
Gwinnett County1,018,5331,43527,9591,8043,44819,4907,1543,9844,48125,17989916,099
Cherokee County298,5671,09830,4571,3802,86919,5517,1342,8993,20725,9501,4979,264
Hall County224,97735415,0086151,0267,7242,4591,2271,42012,7362003,902
Dawson County35,3191604,4102832252,3417152424693,375115885
 
Per Cent to Total PopulationDiversity
Index
 

Forsyth County9.440.288.190.420.895.252.541.001.006.530.302.85
Georgia10.990.165.470.240.523.011.020.440.554.700.161.59
National7.830.395.260.531.067.202.631.361.746.010.332.79
Fulton County12.830.194.680.200.633.061.350.600.683.920.242.30
Gwinnett County8.850.142.750.180.341.910.700.390.442.470.091.58
Cherokee County10.770.3710.200.460.966.552.390.971.078.690.503.10
Hall County12.010.166.670.270.463.431.090.550.635.660.091.73
Dawson County15.950.4512.490.800.646.632.020.691.339.560.332.51
 
Comparisons to State Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Forsyth County 181.98149.67175.78172.29174.63248.23227.52182.70138.90191.20179.29
Georgia 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00
National 253.0596.17224.93205.47239.40256.78309.89316.91127.83211.82175.45
Fulton County 121.8185.4384.70122.06101.75131.48136.21124.6683.40155.16144.55
Gwinnett County 90.6450.1574.8165.5663.6468.5889.1580.1852.5956.2899.53
Cherokee County 236.59186.37195.22186.09217.78233.29221.31195.77184.91319.72195.39
Hall County 101.23121.88115.4688.32114.18106.72124.31115.03120.4456.69109.22
Dawson County 291.44228.12338.42123.37220.44197.66156.17242.02203.30207.63157.79
 
Comparisons to National Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Forsyth County 71.92155.6278.1583.8572.9596.6773.4257.65108.6690.26102.19
Georgia 39.52103.9844.4648.6741.7738.9432.2731.5578.2347.2157.00
National 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00
Fulton County 48.1488.8337.6659.4142.5051.2043.9639.3465.2473.2582.39
Gwinnett County 35.8252.1533.2631.9126.5826.7128.7725.3041.1426.5756.73
Cherokee County 93.50193.7986.7990.5790.9790.8571.4261.77144.65150.94111.37
Hall County 40.00126.7351.3342.9847.7041.5640.1136.3094.2126.7662.25
Dawson County 115.17237.20150.4660.0492.0876.9750.4076.37159.0398.0289.94
 
Ancestry Report Part III
DescriptionTotal Population Chinese Filipino Japanese Korean Vietnamese South Central Asian South East Asian Other Asian Middle Eastern Other Ancestry Unknown

Forsyth County282,8105,9558772303,4301,25637,5115408412,07245,42347,668
Georgia (in 000's)11,28871301166651973325301,7531,721
National (in 000's)343,2514,4613,0107931,5411,9135,4521,6431,2291,93147,32251,000
Fulton County1,098,52417,9253,8492,5009,6462,76643,6212,0682,0896,021143,56394,044
Gwinnett County1,018,53318,1223,7561,69530,44926,82638,1578,5375,7863,751147,10089,200
Cherokee County298,5678607993925494492,1906653111,10341,34968,755
Hall County224,977453574575221,64684241717555837,05842,443
Dawson County35,3191414711360631028923,57411,462
 
Per Cent to Total PopulationDiversity
Index
 

Forsyth County9.442.110.310.081.210.4413.260.190.300.7316.0616.86
Georgia10.990.630.260.100.590.571.740.290.220.2715.5315.25
National7.831.300.880.230.450.561.590.480.360.5613.7914.86
Fulton County12.831.630.350.230.880.253.970.190.190.5513.078.56
Gwinnett County8.851.780.370.172.992.633.750.840.570.3714.448.76
Cherokee County10.770.290.270.130.180.150.730.220.100.3713.8523.03
Hall County12.010.200.260.030.230.730.370.190.080.2516.4718.87
Dawson County15.950.040.420.030.100.000.180.030.080.2610.1232.45
 
Comparisons to State Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Forsyth County 332.98118.2784.59206.0177.59760.8265.14134.84276.30103.45110.55
Georgia 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00
National 205.52334.50240.2476.2897.3691.11163.28162.41212.1288.8097.45
Fulton County 258.03133.64236.70149.1543.99227.7764.2286.23206.7184.1756.15
Gwinnett County 281.36140.65173.09507.80460.15214.89285.94257.59138.8993.0257.44
Cherokee County 45.55102.07136.5631.2326.2742.0775.9847.23139.3289.20151.04
Hall County 31.8497.3126.3539.41127.8221.4763.2335.2793.54106.09123.74
Dawson County 6.27158.7432.3917.310.0010.239.6635.9598.2465.18212.86
 
Comparisons to National Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Forsyth County 162.0235.3635.21270.0979.69835.0839.8983.03130.26116.50113.44
Georgia 48.6629.9041.62131.10102.71109.7661.2461.5747.14112.62102.61
National 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00
Fulton County 125.5539.9598.53195.5545.18250.0139.3353.0997.4594.7957.62
Gwinnett County 136.9042.0572.05665.74472.61235.87175.12158.6165.48104.7658.94
Cherokee County 22.1630.5156.8440.9526.9946.1846.5429.0865.68100.45154.99
Hall County 15.4929.0910.9751.67131.2923.5638.7321.7244.10119.48126.97
Dawson County 3.0547.4613.4822.700.0011.235.9222.1346.3173.40218.42


Sources: STI: PopStats, Circa April 2025