ERSys® - Exploratory Research System

Heard County – Ancestry

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:

18.83

Most common ancestry not including "Unknown" is:

American

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

Heard County	11,991	2,027	30	5	99	189	0	0	2	596	182	181
Georgia (in 000's)	11,288	641	21	6	209	627	187	116	51	2,374	539	501
National (in 000's)	343,251	13,890	2,213	626	11,327	38,879	6,181	4,644	3,687	25,893	7,852	7,174
Coweta County	159,395	11,877	292	65	3,168	5,678	1,863	1,148	424	20,712	3,816	3,952
Carroll County	130,685	23,625	256	17	1,559	4,581	3,416	608	372	18,426	3,348	3,425
Troup County	72,030	4,367	103	34	381	1,783	612	180	165	18,055	3,703	3,601
Randolph County	23,075	4,161	78	1	53	530	1	9	82	2,265	872	731

Per Cent to Total Population	Diversity Index

Heard County	18.83	16.90	0.25	0.04	0.83	1.58	0.00	0.00	0.02	4.97	1.52	1.51
Georgia	10.99	5.68	0.18	0.06	1.85	5.56	1.65	1.03	0.46	21.03	4.77	4.44
National	7.83	4.05	0.64	0.18	3.30	11.33	1.80	1.35	1.07	7.54	2.29	2.09
Coweta County	11.20	7.45	0.18	0.04	1.99	3.56	1.17	0.72	0.27	12.99	2.39	2.48
Carroll County	12.49	18.08	0.20	0.01	1.19	3.51	2.61	0.47	0.28	14.10	2.56	2.62
Troup County	14.58	6.06	0.14	0.05	0.53	2.48	0.85	0.25	0.23	25.07	5.14	5.00
Randolph County	14.29	18.03	0.34	0.00	0.23	2.30	0.00	0.04	0.36	9.82	3.78	3.17

Comparisons to State Norms	% to Total >= 150%		% to Total < 50%

Heard County		297.55	135.46	73.84	44.61	28.37	0.00	0.00	3.66	23.63	31.79	34.00
Georgia		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
National		71.23	349.10	323.17	178.32	203.89	108.98	131.61	235.55	35.87	47.92	47.08
Coweta County		131.16	99.18	72.22	107.40	64.12	70.73	70.06	58.34	61.79	50.15	55.85
Carroll County		318.20	106.06	23.04	64.46	63.10	158.18	45.26	62.43	67.04	53.66	59.04
Troup County		106.72	77.42	83.59	28.58	44.56	51.42	24.31	50.24	119.19	107.69	112.61
Randolph County		317.41	183.01	7.67	12.41	41.34	0.26	3.79	77.93	46.68	79.16	71.36

Comparisons to National Norms	% to Total >= 150%		% to Total < 50%

Heard County		417.73	38.80	22.85	25.02	13.92	0.00	0.00	1.55	65.89	66.35	72.22
Georgia		140.39	28.65	30.94	56.08	49.05	91.76	75.98	42.45	278.78	208.70	212.40
National		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
Coweta County		184.13	28.41	22.35	60.23	31.45	64.90	53.23	24.77	172.25	104.66	118.63
Carroll County		446.73	30.38	7.13	36.15	30.95	145.15	34.39	26.50	186.91	111.99	125.39
Troup County		149.82	22.18	25.87	16.03	21.85	47.18	18.47	21.33	332.28	224.74	239.19
Randolph County		445.61	52.42	2.37	6.96	20.28	0.24	2.88	33.09	130.12	165.20	151.57

Ancestry Report Part II
Description	Total Population	Canadian	British	Dutch	French	German	Italian	Polish	Scandinavian	Scotish/ Irish	Spanish	Other European

Heard County	11,991	8	992	47	104	354	39	38	49	1,001	0	96
Georgia (in 000's)	11,288	18	618	27	58	339	116	50	62	531	18	179
National (in 000's)	343,251	1,350	18,069	1,828	3,642	24,708	9,027	4,667	5,969	20,625	1,140	9,563
Coweta County	159,395	429	12,715	574	1,547	7,123	3,001	1,124	1,741	10,144	372	3,860
Carroll County	130,685	595	8,078	357	556	3,312	926	295	774	7,237	113	2,036
Troup County	72,030	59	3,605	128	247	2,129	431	115	201	3,376	23	617
Randolph County	23,075	3	2,155	81	87	539	144	16	55	1,638	0	281

Per Cent to Total Population	Diversity Index

Heard County	18.83	0.07	8.27	0.39	0.87	2.95	0.33	0.32	0.41	8.35	0.00	0.80
Georgia	10.99	0.16	5.47	0.24	0.52	3.01	1.02	0.44	0.55	4.70	0.16	1.59
National	7.83	0.39	5.26	0.53	1.06	7.20	2.63	1.36	1.74	6.01	0.33	2.79
Coweta County	11.20	0.27	7.98	0.36	0.97	4.47	1.88	0.71	1.09	6.36	0.23	2.42
Carroll County	12.49	0.46	6.18	0.27	0.43	2.53	0.71	0.23	0.59	5.54	0.09	1.56
Troup County	14.58	0.08	5.00	0.18	0.34	2.96	0.60	0.16	0.28	4.69	0.03	0.86
Randolph County	14.29	0.01	9.34	0.35	0.38	2.34	0.62	0.07	0.24	7.10	0.00	1.22

Comparisons to State Norms	% to Total >= 150%		% to Total < 50%

Heard County		42.92	151.15	165.55	167.96	98.18	31.76	72.23	74.48	177.60	0.00	50.42
Georgia		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
National		253.05	96.17	224.93	205.47	239.40	256.78	309.89	316.91	127.83	211.82	175.45
Coweta County		173.15	145.74	152.10	187.95	148.62	183.82	160.73	199.07	135.40	148.82	152.50
Carroll County		292.91	112.93	115.38	82.39	84.29	69.18	51.45	107.94	117.82	55.14	98.11
Troup County		52.70	91.44	75.05	66.41	98.30	58.42	36.39	50.86	99.71	20.36	53.94
Randolph County		8.36	170.63	148.26	73.02	77.69	60.93	15.80	43.44	151.02	0.00	76.69

Comparisons to National Norms	% to Total >= 150%		% to Total < 50%

Heard County		16.96	157.16	73.60	81.75	41.01	12.37	23.31	23.50	138.93	0.00	28.74
Georgia		39.52	103.98	44.46	48.67	41.77	38.94	32.27	31.55	78.23	47.21	57.00
National		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
Coweta County		68.42	151.54	67.62	91.48	62.08	71.59	51.87	62.81	105.91	70.26	86.92
Carroll County		115.75	117.42	51.30	40.10	35.21	26.94	16.60	34.06	92.16	26.03	55.92
Troup County		20.82	95.08	33.37	32.32	41.06	22.75	11.74	16.05	78.00	9.61	30.74
Randolph County		3.31	177.41	65.91	35.54	32.45	23.73	5.10	13.71	118.14	0.00	43.71

Ancestry Report Part III
Description	Total Population	Chinese	Filipino	Japanese	Korean	Vietnamese	South Central Asian	South East Asian	Other Asian	Middle Eastern	Other Ancestry	Unknown

Heard County	11,991	11	0	0	8	46	1	6	1	3	1,694	4,182
Georgia (in 000's)	11,288	71	30	11	66	65	197	33	25	30	1,753	1,721
National (in 000's)	343,251	4,461	3,010	793	1,541	1,913	5,452	1,643	1,229	1,931	47,322	51,000
Coweta County	159,395	706	294	109	502	842	828	73	84	273	25,234	34,825
Carroll County	130,685	213	92	39	66	83	353	111	255	70	20,796	24,695
Troup County	72,030	170	62	49	610	52	706	32	48	34	11,876	14,476
Randolph County	23,075	0	0	7	1	0	2	22	40	0	3,662	5,559

Per Cent to Total Population	Diversity Index

Heard County	18.83	0.09	0.00	0.00	0.07	0.38	0.01	0.05	0.01	0.03	14.13	34.88
Georgia	10.99	0.63	0.26	0.10	0.59	0.57	1.74	0.29	0.22	0.27	15.53	15.25
National	7.83	1.30	0.88	0.23	0.45	0.56	1.59	0.48	0.36	0.56	13.79	14.86
Coweta County	11.20	0.44	0.18	0.07	0.31	0.53	0.52	0.05	0.05	0.17	15.83	21.85
Carroll County	12.49	0.16	0.07	0.03	0.05	0.06	0.27	0.08	0.20	0.05	15.91	18.90
Troup County	14.58	0.24	0.09	0.07	0.85	0.07	0.98	0.04	0.07	0.05	16.49	20.10
Randolph County	14.29	0.00	0.00	0.03	0.00	0.00	0.01	0.10	0.17	0.00	15.87	24.09

Comparisons to State Norms	% to Total >= 150%		% to Total < 50%

Heard County		14.51	0.00	0.00	11.33	67.02	0.48	17.07	3.78	9.44	90.99	228.75
Georgia		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
National		205.52	334.50	240.24	76.28	97.36	91.11	163.28	162.41	212.12	88.80	97.45
Coweta County		70.04	70.35	71.12	53.50	92.29	29.80	15.62	23.90	64.59	101.97	143.30
Carroll County		25.77	26.85	31.04	8.58	11.10	15.49	28.98	88.48	20.20	102.49	123.94
Troup County		37.32	32.83	70.75	143.85	12.61	56.22	15.16	30.22	17.80	106.19	131.82
Randolph County		0.00	0.00	31.55	0.74	0.00	0.50	32.53	78.60	0.00	102.22	158.01

Comparisons to National Norms	% to Total >= 150%		% to Total < 50%

Heard County		7.06	0.00	0.00	14.86	68.84	0.53	10.45	2.33	4.45	102.47	234.73
Georgia		48.66	29.90	41.62	131.10	102.71	109.76	61.24	61.57	47.14	112.62	102.61
National		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
Coweta County		34.08	21.03	29.61	70.14	94.79	32.71	9.57	14.71	30.45	114.83	147.05
Carroll County		12.54	8.03	12.92	11.25	11.40	17.01	17.75	54.48	9.52	115.43	127.18
Troup County		18.16	9.81	29.45	188.59	12.95	61.71	9.28	18.61	8.39	119.59	135.26
Randolph County		0.00	0.00	13.13	0.97	0.00	0.55	19.92	48.40	0.00	115.11	162.14

Sources: STI: PopStats, Circa April 2025