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Gray 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:

16.09

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)

Gray County20,7721,3701270355,74979107290518171157
Texas (in 000's)31,782914892943010,0417613317542,587710454
National (in 000's)343,25113,8902,21362611,32738,8796,1814,6443,68725,8937,8527,174
Carson County5,7053425311651602421736
Wheeler County4,84431128263982322967401620
Hemphill County3,07910611009610026501
Collingsworth County2,620103302477200741032524
Donley County3,2141891711930800421172530
Armstrong County1,84512814001470015512
Roberts County8337210761000002
 
Per Cent to Total PopulationDiversity
Index
 

Gray County16.096.600.610.000.1727.680.380.521.402.490.820.76
Texas14.722.870.280.091.3531.592.391.042.378.142.231.43
National7.834.050.640.183.3011.331.801.351.077.542.292.09
Carson County20.665.990.930.020.289.040.000.040.740.300.050.11
Wheeler County15.416.420.580.041.3020.270.660.601.380.830.330.41
Hemphill County20.043.440.360.000.0031.210.000.000.840.160.000.03
Collingsworth County17.123.931.150.080.1529.470.000.002.823.930.950.92
Donley County17.475.880.530.030.599.580.000.001.313.640.780.93
Armstrong County17.136.940.760.000.007.970.000.000.810.270.050.11
Roberts County17.648.640.120.000.847.320.000.000.000.000.000.24
 
Comparisons to State Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Gray County 229.41218.310.0012.4687.6115.8849.5258.8230.6336.8452.90
Texas 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00
National 140.76230.24196.94243.9335.8575.19130.0645.2692.67102.36146.29
Carson County 208.52331.7218.9220.7328.630.003.3731.023.662.357.36
Wheeler County 223.32206.4044.5696.1464.1727.5857.5558.2810.1414.7828.90
Hemphill County 119.75127.570.000.0098.790.000.0035.581.990.002.27
Collingsworth County 136.74408.8682.3811.2993.270.000.00119.0048.2942.7064.12
Donley County 204.55188.8733.5843.7030.330.000.0055.0644.7234.8165.33
Armstrong County 241.32270.950.000.0025.220.000.0034.263.332.437.59
Roberts County 300.6542.870.0062.1223.180.000.000.000.000.0016.81
 
Comparisons to National Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Gray County 162.9894.820.005.11244.3521.1238.07129.9833.0635.9936.16
Texas 71.0443.4350.7841.00278.92133.0076.89220.97107.9197.7068.36
National 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00
Carson County 148.14144.089.618.5079.850.002.5968.543.952.305.03
Wheeler County 158.6689.6522.6339.41178.9836.6844.25128.7810.9514.4419.75
Hemphill County 85.0755.410.000.00275.560.000.0078.622.150.001.55
Collingsworth County 97.15177.5841.834.63260.150.000.00262.9652.1141.7143.83
Donley County 145.3282.0317.0517.9184.610.000.00121.6748.2634.0044.66
Armstrong County 171.44117.680.000.0070.340.000.0075.693.592.375.19
Roberts County 213.5918.620.0025.4764.650.000.000.000.000.0011.49
 
Ancestry Report Part II
DescriptionTotal Population Canadian British Dutch French German Italian Polish Scandi­navian Scotish/ Irish Spanish Other European

Gray County20,77261,09220712698592771691,113178164
Texas (in 000's)31,782471,148722051,1522371301951,068107442
National (in 000's)343,2511,35018,0691,8283,64224,7089,0274,6675,96920,6251,1409,563
Carson County5,7050298232757722855246613360
Wheeler County4,84431259522526474493321639
Hemphill County3,079014312525565102161115
Collingsworth County2,62001307411310241266849
Donley County3,214021376181841427311017
Armstrong County1,845015761927260181992042
Roberts County833162161378411110529
 
Per Cent to Total PopulationDiversity
Index
 

Gray County16.090.035.261.000.614.740.440.370.815.360.860.79
Texas14.720.153.610.230.643.620.750.410.613.360.341.39
National7.830.395.260.531.067.202.631.361.746.010.332.79
Carson County20.660.005.220.400.4710.110.391.490.918.172.331.05
Wheeler County15.410.645.351.070.525.450.140.081.016.850.330.81
Hemphill County20.040.004.640.390.168.280.190.160.327.020.360.49
Collingsworth County17.120.004.960.270.154.310.380.080.154.812.601.87
Donley County17.470.006.632.360.565.720.440.060.229.680.000.53
Armstrong County17.130.008.510.331.0314.740.330.000.9810.791.082.28
Roberts County17.640.127.441.921.569.360.480.121.3212.610.241.08
 
Comparisons to State Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Gray County 19.62145.57442.7594.14130.8259.3690.87132.88159.38255.5156.75
Texas 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00
National 267.21145.76236.61164.66198.59352.45333.30284.01178.7399.05200.27
Carson County 0.00144.64179.1273.45279.0251.68365.25148.87242.97695.1475.60
Wheeler County 434.75148.05476.9480.10150.3619.3720.24165.22203.8798.4957.87
Hemphill County 0.00128.60173.1625.20228.4826.1239.8153.05208.67106.5335.02
Collingsworth County 0.00137.39118.7023.69118.9951.1518.7124.94143.05773.90134.44
Donley County 0.00183.511,050.6086.92157.9458.3815.2535.57287.830.0038.02
Armstrong County 0.00235.63144.49159.83406.7243.580.00159.35320.83323.23163.63
Roberts County 81.55206.09853.38242.21258.3364.3529.43215.68374.9471.5977.66
 
Comparisons to National Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Gray County 7.3499.87187.1257.1765.8816.8427.2646.7989.17257.9628.34
Texas 37.4268.6142.2660.7350.3628.3730.0035.2155.95100.9649.93
National 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00
Carson County 0.0099.2375.7044.61140.5114.66109.5952.42135.94701.8037.75
Wheeler County 162.70101.57201.5848.6475.715.496.0758.17114.0799.4328.90
Hemphill County 0.0088.2373.1815.31115.057.4111.9418.68116.75107.5517.49
Collingsworth County 0.0094.2650.1714.3959.9214.515.618.7880.04781.3167.13
Donley County 0.00125.90444.0252.7979.5316.564.5812.53161.040.0018.98
Armstrong County 0.00161.6561.0797.06204.8112.370.0056.11179.51326.3281.71
Roberts County 30.52141.39360.67147.09130.0818.268.8375.94209.7872.2838.78
 
Ancestry Report Part III
DescriptionTotal Population Chinese Filipino Japanese Korean Vietnamese South Central Asian South East Asian Other Asian Middle Eastern Other Ancestry Unknown

Gray County20,77206684011419153,8463,960
Texas (in 000's)31,7822511672791312671109741094,6813,388
National (in 000's)343,2514,4613,0107931,5411,9135,4521,6431,2291,93147,32251,000
Carson County5,7052000070606632,286
Wheeler County4,844033000001369411,183
Hemphill County3,079000000053578705
Collingsworth County2,620000000040607359
Donley County3,214800001621004531,126
Armstrong County1,8451700100000162614
Roberts County833000000000103285
 
Per Cent to Total PopulationDiversity
Index
 

Gray County16.090.000.320.040.190.050.020.000.040.0718.5219.06
Texas14.720.790.530.080.290.982.110.340.230.3414.7310.66
National7.831.300.880.230.450.561.590.480.360.5613.7914.86
Carson County20.660.040.000.000.000.000.120.000.110.0011.6240.07
Wheeler County15.410.000.680.000.000.000.000.000.270.1219.4324.42
Hemphill County20.040.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.160.1018.7722.90
Collingsworth County17.120.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.150.0023.1713.70
Donley County17.470.250.000.000.000.000.500.650.000.0014.0935.03
Armstrong County17.130.920.000.000.050.000.000.000.000.008.7833.28
Roberts County17.640.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.0012.3634.21
 
Comparisons to State Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Gray County 0.0060.5245.4167.095.400.911.4018.7021.10125.71178.81
Texas 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00
National 164.48167.03272.35156.4556.8375.20139.56154.61164.3893.60139.36
Carson County 4.440.000.000.000.005.810.0045.400.0078.90375.83
Wheeler County 0.00129.750.000.000.000.000.00115.8536.20131.89229.06
Hemphill County 0.000.000.000.000.000.000.0070.1028.48127.46214.76
Collingsworth County 0.000.000.000.000.000.000.0065.910.00157.30128.52
Donley County 31.500.000.000.000.0023.57190.520.000.0095.70328.60
Armstrong County 116.610.000.0018.880.000.000.000.000.0059.62312.14
Roberts County 0.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.0083.95320.90
 
Comparisons to National Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Gray County 0.0036.2316.6742.889.501.211.0112.1012.84134.30128.31
Texas 60.8059.8736.7263.92175.97132.9971.6564.6860.83106.8371.76
National 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00
Carson County 2.700.000.000.000.007.730.0029.360.0084.30269.69
Wheeler County 0.0077.680.000.000.000.000.0074.9322.02140.91164.37
Hemphill County 0.000.000.000.000.000.000.0045.3417.32136.17154.11
Collingsworth County 0.000.000.000.000.000.000.0042.630.00168.0592.22
Donley County 19.150.000.000.000.0031.34136.510.000.00102.24235.79
Armstrong County 70.900.000.0012.070.000.000.000.000.0063.69223.98
Roberts County 0.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.0089.69230.27


Sources: STI: PopStats, Circa April 2025