–

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:

Most common ancestry not including "Unknown" is:

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)

Suffolk County	1,537,291	41,383	3,138	262	122,401	21,718	94,283	66,129	30,807	53,238	21,157	31,833
New York (in 000's)	20,115	518	52	6	2,088	479	430	646	294	1,381	559	777
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
Nassau County	1,393,160	32,087	1,891	291	80,586	14,994	82,345	55,150	22,637	71,403	25,035	51,304
Western Connecticut Planning Region	639,188	16,747	517	131	34,411	13,923	22,696	45,498	9,102	26,712	8,915	14,745
South Central Connecticut Planning Region	578,915	9,931	1,031	186	65,556	16,621	6,351	16,262	4,270	44,580	16,193	16,312
Greater Bridgeport Planning Region	332,284	5,422	340	47	51,287	8,781	10,569	13,342	3,699	23,497	11,153	16,662
Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region	288,348	7,378	1,841	208	28,132	6,139	1,678	4,623	1,544	7,347	3,060	4,709
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	178,654	5,444	230	50	7,798	1,299	755	2,488	635	4,515	1,859	1,847
Washington County	130,073	5,523	711	40	2,142	1,071	646	550	308	831	414	263

Per Cent to Total Population	Diversity Index

Suffolk County	7.76	2.69	0.20	0.02	7.96	1.41	6.13	4.30	2.00	3.46	1.38	2.07
New York	6.60	2.58	0.26	0.03	10.38	2.38	2.14	3.21	1.46	6.86	2.78	3.86
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
Nassau County	6.90	2.30	0.14	0.02	5.78	1.08	5.91	3.96	1.62	5.13	1.80	3.68
Western Connecticut Planning Region	6.98	2.62	0.08	0.02	5.38	2.18	3.55	7.12	1.42	4.18	1.39	2.31
South Central Connecticut Planning Region	7.63	1.72	0.18	0.03	11.32	2.87	1.10	2.81	0.74	7.70	2.80	2.82
Greater Bridgeport Planning Region	7.50	1.63	0.10	0.01	15.43	2.64	3.18	4.02	1.11	7.07	3.36	5.01
Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region	7.90	2.56	0.64	0.07	9.76	2.13	0.58	1.60	0.54	2.55	1.06	1.63
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	8.20	3.05	0.13	0.03	4.36	0.73	0.42	1.39	0.36	2.53	1.04	1.03
Washington County	10.17	4.25	0.55	0.03	1.65	0.82	0.50	0.42	0.24	0.64	0.32	0.20

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

Suffolk County		104.53	78.30	56.79	76.71	59.31	286.69	133.89	136.91	50.46	49.49	53.63
New York		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
National		157.13	247.33	608.04	31.79	475.52	84.18	42.11	73.38	109.91	82.27	54.13
Nassau County		89.43	52.07	69.60	55.73	45.18	276.29	123.21	111.01	74.67	64.62	95.37
Western Connecticut Planning Region		101.74	31.03	68.29	51.87	91.45	165.98	221.55	97.29	60.89	50.16	59.74
South Central Connecticut Planning Region		66.61	68.31	107.05	109.10	120.53	51.28	87.43	50.39	112.19	100.59	72.97
Greater Bridgeport Planning Region		63.36	39.25	47.13	148.70	110.94	148.68	124.97	76.05	103.03	120.71	129.86
Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region		99.36	244.90	240.35	93.99	89.38	27.20	49.90	36.58	37.12	38.16	42.29
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region		118.33	49.38	93.25	42.05	30.53	19.75	43.35	24.28	36.82	37.42	26.77
Washington County		164.88	209.67	102.47	15.87	34.57	23.22	13.16	16.18	9.31	11.45	5.24

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

Suffolk County		66.52	31.66	9.34	241.28	12.47	340.57	317.95	186.58	45.91	60.16	99.07
New York		63.64	40.43	16.45	314.54	21.03	118.80	237.47	136.27	90.99	121.56	184.75
National		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
Nassau County		56.92	21.05	11.45	175.29	9.50	328.22	292.59	151.28	67.94	78.56	176.19
Western Connecticut Planning Region		64.75	12.54	11.23	163.14	19.23	197.18	526.12	132.58	55.40	60.97	110.37
South Central Connecticut Planning Region		42.39	27.62	17.61	343.15	25.35	60.92	207.62	68.67	102.08	122.28	134.81
Greater Bridgeport Planning Region		40.32	15.87	7.75	467.72	23.33	176.63	296.78	103.64	93.74	146.73	239.91
Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region		63.23	99.02	39.53	295.65	18.80	32.32	118.50	49.85	33.78	46.39	78.14
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region		75.30	19.97	15.34	132.27	6.42	23.47	102.93	33.09	33.50	45.49	49.46
Washington County		104.93	84.77	16.85	49.90	7.27	27.58	31.25	22.05	8.47	13.91	9.67

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

Suffolk County	1,537,291	2,449	35,151	3,788	7,675	89,957	201,781	35,083	13,776	142,388	8,052	58,406
New York (in 000's)	20,115	79	645	94	183	968	1,341	460	136	1,255	57	809
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
Nassau County	1,393,160	1,391	16,966	1,579	4,396	53,195	146,370	28,276	6,591	95,462	5,587	73,020
Western Connecticut Planning Region	639,188	3,320	32,630	2,513	5,495	29,512	54,754	13,523	8,546	53,057	2,842	34,294
South Central Connecticut Planning Region	578,915	4,542	23,033	1,401	6,718	20,863	69,239	16,527	5,373	45,086	1,295	19,664
Greater Bridgeport Planning Region	332,284	1,416	10,263	555	2,195	9,369	26,404	7,525	2,679	22,659	652	16,995
Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region	288,348	6,591	20,133	1,357	10,575	14,171	21,071	10,779	5,104	28,814	679	9,693
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	178,654	3,105	13,731	953	4,452	11,665	22,319	9,910	4,785	21,902	715	7,864
Washington County	130,073	3,382	15,813	426	5,693	6,125	17,411	3,227	2,960	21,281	350	4,676

Per Cent to Total Population	Diversity Index

Suffolk County	7.76	0.16	2.29	0.25	0.50	5.85	13.13	2.28	0.90	9.26	0.52	3.80
New York	6.60	0.39	3.21	0.47	0.91	4.81	6.67	2.29	0.67	6.24	0.28	4.02
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
Nassau County	6.90	0.10	1.22	0.11	0.32	3.82	10.51	2.03	0.47	6.85	0.40	5.24
Western Connecticut Planning Region	6.98	0.52	5.10	0.39	0.86	4.62	8.57	2.12	1.34	8.30	0.44	5.37
South Central Connecticut Planning Region	7.63	0.78	3.98	0.24	1.16	3.60	11.96	2.85	0.93	7.79	0.22	3.40
Greater Bridgeport Planning Region	7.50	0.43	3.09	0.17	0.66	2.82	7.95	2.26	0.81	6.82	0.20	5.11
Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region	7.90	2.29	6.98	0.47	3.67	4.91	7.31	3.74	1.77	9.99	0.24	3.36
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	8.20	1.74	7.69	0.53	2.49	6.53	12.49	5.55	2.68	12.26	0.40	4.40
Washington County	10.17	2.60	12.16	0.33	4.38	4.71	13.39	2.48	2.28	16.36	0.27	3.59

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

Suffolk County		40.50	71.26	52.97	54.74	121.54	196.87	99.71	132.77	148.45	184.62	94.51
New York		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
National		100.01	164.06	114.49	116.32	149.51	39.45	59.40	257.63	96.30	117.09	69.31
Nassau County		25.39	37.95	24.37	34.59	79.31	157.58	88.68	70.10	109.82	141.36	130.38
Western Connecticut Planning Region		132.06	159.10	84.52	94.25	95.90	128.48	92.44	198.10	133.03	156.72	133.47
South Central Connecticut Planning Region		199.48	124.00	52.03	127.23	74.85	179.39	124.73	137.51	124.82	78.85	84.50
Greater Bridgeport Planning Region		108.35	96.26	35.91	72.42	58.56	119.18	98.95	119.46	109.29	69.16	127.23
Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region		581.16	217.61	101.17	402.09	102.08	109.60	163.33	262.26	160.15	83.00	83.62
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region		441.89	239.54	114.68	273.21	135.62	187.38	242.36	396.84	196.48	141.07	109.50
Washington County		661.07	378.89	70.41	479.85	97.81	200.77	108.40	337.17	262.21	94.85	89.43

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

Suffolk County		40.50	43.44	46.27	47.06	81.29	499.09	167.85	51.54	154.15	157.68	136.36
New York		99.99	60.95	87.34	85.97	66.88	253.51	168.34	38.81	103.84	85.40	144.28
National		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
Nassau County		25.38	23.13	21.28	29.74	53.04	399.49	149.28	27.21	114.04	120.72	188.12
Western Connecticut Planning Region		132.05	96.98	73.82	81.03	64.14	325.72	155.61	76.89	138.15	133.85	192.57
South Central Connecticut Planning Region		199.46	75.58	45.44	109.38	50.06	454.77	209.98	53.38	129.61	67.34	121.91
Greater Bridgeport Planning Region		108.34	58.67	31.36	62.26	39.17	302.14	166.57	46.37	113.49	59.07	183.57
Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region		581.12	132.64	88.37	345.67	68.27	277.86	274.95	101.80	166.31	70.89	120.65
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region		441.85	146.01	100.17	234.88	90.71	475.02	407.99	154.03	204.03	120.48	157.99
Washington County		661.02	230.94	61.50	412.53	65.42	508.96	182.47	130.87	272.29	81.00	129.03

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

Suffolk County	1,537,291	16,896	5,511	931	5,264	1,343	30,083	2,428	3,016	10,647	176,265	200,052
New York (in 000's)	20,115	771	126	41	141	33	601	76	82	159	2,450	2,376
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
Nassau County	1,393,160	48,599	13,647	2,115	15,771	1,053	70,742	3,438	6,626	16,249	181,077	163,287
Western Connecticut Planning Region	639,188	10,037	3,425	1,574	2,483	765	15,899	2,101	966	4,229	90,455	73,371
South Central Connecticut Planning Region	578,915	8,406	2,452	598	2,637	1,354	7,897	1,796	2,685	3,980	74,621	61,455
Greater Bridgeport Planning Region	332,284	2,151	1,286	255	776	1,492	5,430	2,193	981	2,556	39,446	30,207
Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region	288,348	3,889	2,450	159	497	373	2,647	745	226	937	40,417	40,382
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	178,654	1,686	512	121	244	361	2,029	525	263	804	19,926	23,862
Washington County	130,073	1,035	297	149	316	11	503	240	106	997	13,057	19,519

Per Cent to Total Population	Diversity Index

Suffolk County	7.76	1.10	0.36	0.06	0.34	0.09	1.96	0.16	0.20	0.69	11.47	13.01
New York	6.60	3.83	0.62	0.21	0.70	0.17	2.99	0.38	0.41	0.79	12.18	11.81
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
Nassau County	6.90	3.49	0.98	0.15	1.13	0.08	5.08	0.25	0.48	1.17	13.00	11.72
Western Connecticut Planning Region	6.98	1.57	0.54	0.25	0.39	0.12	2.49	0.33	0.15	0.66	14.15	11.48
South Central Connecticut Planning Region	7.63	1.45	0.42	0.10	0.46	0.23	1.36	0.31	0.46	0.69	12.89	10.62
Greater Bridgeport Planning Region	7.50	0.65	0.39	0.08	0.23	0.45	1.63	0.66	0.30	0.77	11.87	9.09
Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region	7.90	1.35	0.85	0.06	0.17	0.13	0.92	0.26	0.08	0.32	14.02	14.00
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	8.20	0.94	0.29	0.07	0.14	0.20	1.14	0.29	0.15	0.45	11.15	13.36
Washington County	10.17	0.80	0.23	0.11	0.24	0.01	0.39	0.18	0.08	0.77	10.04	15.01

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

Suffolk County		28.68	57.44	29.47	48.94	52.48	65.54	41.87	47.93	87.75	94.13	110.17
New York		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
National		33.91	140.52	112.42	64.18	334.75	53.20	126.88	87.50	71.27	113.18	125.79
Nassau County		91.02	156.95	73.88	161.81	45.40	170.07	65.42	116.19	147.78	106.70	99.23
Western Connecticut Planning Region		40.97	85.85	119.84	55.52	71.89	83.31	87.13	36.92	83.83	116.18	97.18
South Central Connecticut Planning Region		37.88	67.86	50.27	65.11	140.49	45.69	82.24	113.31	87.11	105.82	89.87
Greater Bridgeport Planning Region		16.89	62.01	37.35	33.38	269.71	54.73	174.95	72.12	97.46	97.46	76.96
Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region		35.19	136.14	26.84	24.64	77.70	30.75	68.49	19.15	41.17	115.07	118.56
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region		24.62	45.92	32.96	19.52	121.38	38.04	77.90	35.96	57.02	91.56	113.08
Washington County		20.76	36.58	55.75	34.72	5.08	12.95	48.91	19.91	97.12	82.41	127.04

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

Suffolk County		84.57	40.88	26.22	76.26	15.68	123.21	33.00	54.78	123.13	83.17	87.58
New York		294.91	71.16	88.96	155.80	29.87	187.98	78.82	114.29	140.32	88.36	79.50
National		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
Nassau County		268.41	111.69	65.72	252.10	13.56	319.70	51.56	132.79	207.36	94.28	78.88
Western Connecticut Planning Region		120.82	61.10	106.61	86.51	21.48	156.61	68.68	42.20	117.63	102.65	77.26
South Central Connecticut Planning Region		111.73	48.29	44.72	101.44	41.97	85.88	64.82	129.49	122.23	93.50	71.45
Greater Bridgeport Planning Region		49.81	44.13	33.22	52.01	80.57	102.89	137.89	82.43	136.76	86.11	61.18
Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region		103.78	96.88	23.87	38.38	23.21	57.80	53.98	21.88	57.77	101.67	94.26
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region		72.61	32.68	29.32	30.41	36.26	71.50	61.40	41.10	80.01	80.90	89.89
Washington County		61.23	26.04	49.59	54.10	1.52	24.35	38.55	22.75	136.27	72.81	101.00

Sources: STI: PopStats, Circa April 2025

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