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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:

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)

Grayson County	15,300	4,144	18	1	243	231	65	27	21	677	76	80
Virginia (in 000's)	8,893	582	19	6	172	223	326	155	66	1,026	341	252
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
Surry County	71,692	10,435	93	13	703	7,342	189	48	309	1,594	486	451
Washington County	54,119	13,486	72	0	237	487	29	40	137	524	168	96
Wythe County	28,326	7,902	41	1	67	246	30	0	46	418	147	129
Carroll County	29,445	8,118	26	2	74	751	148	61	47	54	47	29
Smyth County	29,211	7,793	36	1	115	341	24	10	62	295	100	86
Ashe County	27,768	8,153	42	10	254	1,103	93	109	32	148	32	28
Johnson County	18,711	3,878	41	13	51	156	245	56	45	509	99	91
Alleghany County	11,555	2,740	31	6	192	965	165	9	11	81	34	18
Galax city	6,748	1,256	15	0	5	727	221	69	29	195	111	65

Per Cent to Total Population	Diversity Index

Grayson County	17.08	27.08	0.12	0.01	1.59	1.51	0.42	0.18	0.14	4.42	0.50	0.52
Virginia	8.45	6.55	0.21	0.07	1.93	2.51	3.66	1.74	0.74	11.53	3.83	2.83
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
Surry County	15.42	14.56	0.13	0.02	0.98	10.24	0.26	0.07	0.43	2.22	0.68	0.63
Washington County	18.84	24.92	0.13	0.00	0.44	0.90	0.05	0.07	0.25	0.97	0.31	0.18
Wythe County	19.02	27.90	0.14	0.00	0.24	0.87	0.11	0.00	0.16	1.48	0.52	0.46
Carroll County	18.10	27.57	0.09	0.01	0.25	2.55	0.50	0.21	0.16	0.18	0.16	0.10
Smyth County	20.78	26.68	0.12	0.00	0.39	1.17	0.08	0.03	0.21	1.01	0.34	0.29
Ashe County	17.25	29.36	0.15	0.04	0.91	3.97	0.33	0.39	0.12	0.53	0.12	0.10
Johnson County	17.28	20.73	0.22	0.07	0.27	0.83	1.31	0.30	0.24	2.72	0.53	0.49
Alleghany County	15.28	23.71	0.27	0.05	1.66	8.35	1.43	0.08	0.10	0.70	0.29	0.16
Galax city	13.70	18.61	0.22	0.00	0.07	10.77	3.28	1.02	0.43	2.89	1.64	0.96

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

Grayson County		413.53	55.14	9.43	82.23	60.21	11.60	10.13	18.45	38.37	12.97	18.49
Virginia		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
National		61.78	302.22	263.16	170.85	451.71	49.15	77.70	144.42	65.41	59.74	73.90
Surry County		222.23	60.80	26.15	50.77	408.42	7.20	3.85	57.95	19.28	17.70	22.24
Washington County		380.46	62.36	0.00	22.67	35.89	1.46	4.24	34.04	8.40	8.11	6.27
Wythe County		425.92	67.84	5.09	12.25	34.63	2.89	0.00	21.83	12.80	13.55	16.10
Carroll County		420.94	41.39	9.80	13.01	101.72	13.72	11.90	21.46	1.59	4.17	3.48
Smyth County		407.32	57.76	4.94	20.38	46.56	2.24	1.97	28.54	8.76	8.94	10.41
Ashe County		448.28	70.89	51.93	47.36	158.41	9.14	22.54	15.49	4.62	3.01	3.57
Johnson County		316.44	102.71	100.19	14.11	33.25	35.74	17.19	32.34	23.59	13.82	17.20
Alleghany County		362.04	125.75	74.88	86.03	333.06	38.97	4.47	12.80	6.08	7.68	5.51
Galax city		284.18	104.19	0.00	3.84	429.66	89.39	58.72	57.78	25.06	42.96	34.06

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

Grayson County		669.32	18.25	3.58	48.13	13.33	23.59	13.04	12.78	58.66	21.71	25.02
Virginia		161.85	33.09	38.00	58.53	22.14	203.46	128.70	69.24	152.88	167.39	135.32
National		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
Surry County		359.69	20.12	9.94	29.72	90.42	14.64	4.95	40.13	29.47	29.63	30.10
Washington County		615.79	20.63	0.00	13.27	7.94	2.98	5.46	23.57	12.84	13.57	8.49
Wythe County		689.37	22.45	1.93	7.17	7.67	5.88	0.00	15.12	19.56	22.69	21.79
Carroll County		681.30	13.69	3.72	7.62	22.52	27.91	15.31	14.86	2.43	6.98	4.71
Smyth County		659.27	19.11	1.88	11.93	10.31	4.56	2.53	19.76	13.39	14.97	14.09
Ashe County		725.56	23.46	19.73	27.72	35.07	18.60	29.01	10.73	7.07	5.04	4.82
Johnson County		512.17	33.98	38.07	8.26	7.36	72.71	22.12	22.39	36.06	23.13	23.27
Alleghany County		585.98	41.61	28.45	50.35	73.73	79.30	5.76	8.86	9.29	12.86	7.45
Galax city		459.96	34.47	0.00	2.25	95.12	181.87	75.58	40.01	38.31	71.91	46.09

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

Grayson County	15,300	21	1,638	55	37	860	138	30	57	1,024	142	171
Virginia (in 000's)	8,893	21	591	30	62	457	162	69	77	533	24	218
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
Surry County	71,692	82	7,469	261	437	2,902	650	314	258	4,689	129	1,063
Washington County	54,119	127	6,047	170	340	2,968	524	154	406	5,069	30	1,051
Wythe County	28,326	60	2,583	107	78	2,335	212	88	186	2,079	64	486
Carroll County	29,445	34	3,845	164	120	1,655	327	103	110	2,344	76	586
Smyth County	29,211	40	2,866	125	120	1,670	163	67	152	2,423	0	310
Ashe County	27,768	74	2,663	110	236	1,788	468	134	169	2,740	0	454
Johnson County	18,711	8	1,909	110	96	1,147	267	108	123	2,103	0	187
Alleghany County	11,555	12	1,137	71	45	620	123	24	52	850	0	134
Galax city	6,748	0	646	21	16	274	39	0	30	334	0	113

Per Cent to Total Population	Diversity Index

Grayson County	17.08	0.14	10.71	0.36	0.24	5.62	0.90	0.20	0.37	6.69	0.93	1.12
Virginia	8.45	0.23	6.64	0.33	0.70	5.14	1.82	0.77	0.87	6.00	0.27	2.45
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
Surry County	15.42	0.11	10.42	0.36	0.61	4.05	0.91	0.44	0.36	6.54	0.18	1.48
Washington County	18.84	0.23	11.17	0.31	0.63	5.48	0.97	0.28	0.75	9.37	0.06	1.94
Wythe County	19.02	0.21	9.12	0.38	0.28	8.24	0.75	0.31	0.66	7.34	0.23	1.72
Carroll County	18.10	0.12	13.06	0.56	0.41	5.62	1.11	0.35	0.37	7.96	0.26	1.99
Smyth County	20.78	0.14	9.81	0.43	0.41	5.72	0.56	0.23	0.52	8.29	0.00	1.06
Ashe County	17.25	0.27	9.59	0.40	0.85	6.44	1.69	0.48	0.61	9.87	0.00	1.63
Johnson County	17.28	0.04	10.20	0.59	0.51	6.13	1.43	0.58	0.66	11.24	0.00	1.00
Alleghany County	15.28	0.10	9.84	0.61	0.39	5.37	1.06	0.21	0.45	7.36	0.00	1.16
Galax city	13.70	0.00	9.57	0.31	0.24	4.06	0.58	0.00	0.44	4.95	0.00	1.67

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

Grayson County		58.87	161.23	107.57	34.61	109.41	49.50	25.30	43.05	111.61	346.60	45.70
Virginia		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
National		168.72	79.27	159.36	151.84	140.11	144.35	175.45	200.93	100.20	124.06	113.92
Surry County		49.06	156.89	108.94	87.24	78.79	49.76	56.52	41.58	109.07	67.20	60.63
Washington County		100.66	168.27	94.00	89.91	106.75	53.14	36.72	86.69	156.19	20.70	79.41
Wythe County		90.86	137.33	113.04	39.41	160.45	41.08	40.09	75.88	122.39	84.38	70.15
Carroll County		49.53	196.65	166.67	58.32	109.40	60.95	45.14	43.17	132.75	96.39	81.37
Smyth County		58.74	147.76	128.05	58.79	111.28	30.63	29.60	60.13	138.32	0.00	43.39
Ashe County		114.31	144.42	118.54	121.63	125.33	92.50	62.27	70.33	164.54	0.00	66.85
Johnson County		18.34	153.65	175.92	73.43	119.32	78.32	74.48	75.96	187.42	0.00	40.86
Alleghany County		44.54	148.19	183.87	55.73	104.44	58.42	26.80	52.00	122.67	0.00	47.42
Galax city		0.00	144.17	93.12	33.93	79.03	31.72	0.00	51.37	82.54	0.00	68.47

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

Grayson County		34.89	203.38	67.50	22.79	78.09	34.30	14.42	21.43	111.39	279.39	40.11
Virginia		59.27	126.14	62.75	65.86	71.37	69.28	57.00	49.77	99.80	80.61	87.78
National		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
Surry County		29.08	197.91	68.36	57.45	56.23	34.47	32.21	20.70	108.85	54.17	53.22
Washington County		59.66	212.26	58.98	59.21	76.19	36.82	20.93	43.14	155.88	16.69	69.70
Wythe County		53.85	173.23	70.93	25.95	114.52	28.46	22.85	37.76	122.15	68.02	61.58
Carroll County		29.36	248.07	104.59	38.41	78.08	42.23	25.73	21.48	132.49	77.70	71.43
Smyth County		34.81	186.38	80.35	38.72	79.42	21.22	16.87	29.93	138.05	0.00	38.09
Ashe County		67.75	182.18	74.39	80.11	89.45	64.08	35.49	35.00	164.22	0.00	58.68
Johnson County		10.87	193.82	110.39	48.36	85.16	54.26	42.45	37.80	187.05	0.00	35.87
Alleghany County		26.40	186.93	115.38	36.71	74.54	40.47	15.28	25.88	122.43	0.00	41.62
Galax city		0.00	181.86	58.44	22.35	56.41	21.98	0.00	25.57	82.37	0.00	60.10

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

Grayson County	15,300	0	2	0	23	0	57	0	8	20	1,510	3,924
Virginia (in 000's)	8,893	80	79	12	78	67	223	44	41	74	1,377	1,409
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
Surry County	71,692	50	32	6	21	121	11	38	129	124	10,633	20,610
Washington County	54,119	56	59	2	17	6	125	31	10	119	5,082	16,450
Wythe County	28,326	32	0	29	0	12	86	1	12	6	2,751	8,092
Carroll County	29,445	1	0	7	1	9	18	5	23	69	2,970	7,621
Smyth County	29,211	19	0	1	2	0	8	3	60	47	2,676	9,596
Ashe County	27,768	6	20	4	2	51	2	0	26	0	2,411	6,406
Johnson County	18,711	0	14	0	9	0	1	1	6	6	1,725	5,707
Alleghany County	11,555	0	32	0	0	0	13	1	0	0	1,515	2,674
Galax city	6,748	0	11	0	0	0	0	0	22	0	997	1,552

Per Cent to Total Population	Diversity Index

Grayson County	17.08	0.00	0.01	0.00	0.15	0.00	0.37	0.00	0.05	0.13	9.87	25.65
Virginia	8.45	0.89	0.89	0.13	0.87	0.75	2.51	0.50	0.46	0.83	15.48	15.84
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
Surry County	15.42	0.07	0.04	0.01	0.03	0.17	0.02	0.05	0.18	0.17	14.83	28.75
Washington County	18.84	0.10	0.11	0.00	0.03	0.01	0.23	0.06	0.02	0.22	9.39	30.40
Wythe County	19.02	0.11	0.00	0.10	0.00	0.04	0.30	0.00	0.04	0.02	9.71	28.57
Carroll County	18.10	0.00	0.00	0.02	0.00	0.03	0.06	0.02	0.08	0.23	10.09	25.88
Smyth County	20.78	0.07	0.00	0.00	0.01	0.00	0.03	0.01	0.21	0.16	9.16	32.85
Ashe County	17.25	0.02	0.07	0.01	0.01	0.18	0.01	0.00	0.09	0.00	8.68	23.07
Johnson County	17.28	0.00	0.07	0.00	0.05	0.00	0.01	0.01	0.03	0.03	9.22	30.50
Alleghany County	15.28	0.00	0.28	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.11	0.01	0.00	0.00	13.11	23.14
Galax city	13.70	0.00	0.16	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.33	0.00	14.77	23.00

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

Grayson County		0.00	1.47	0.00	17.19	0.00	14.84	0.00	11.28	15.67	63.74	161.89
Virginia		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
National		145.22	98.63	177.18	51.35	73.84	63.27	96.58	77.26	67.41	89.04	93.79
Surry County		7.79	5.02	6.42	3.35	22.36	0.61	10.70	38.81	20.73	95.79	181.46
Washington County		11.56	12.26	2.83	3.59	1.47	9.20	11.56	3.99	26.35	60.65	191.86
Wythe County		12.62	0.00	78.53	0.00	5.61	12.09	0.71	9.14	2.54	62.73	180.32
Carroll County		0.38	0.00	18.24	0.39	4.05	2.44	3.43	16.85	28.08	65.15	163.37
Smyth County		7.27	0.00	2.63	0.78	0.00	1.09	2.07	44.31	19.28	59.17	207.36
Ashe County		2.41	8.10	11.05	0.82	24.33	0.29	0.00	20.20	0.00	56.08	145.62
Johnson County		0.00	8.41	0.00	5.50	0.00	0.21	1.08	6.92	3.84	59.54	192.53
Alleghany County		0.00	31.14	0.00	0.00	0.00	4.48	1.75	0.00	0.00	84.68	146.07
Galax city		0.00	18.33	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	70.32	0.00	95.42	145.18

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

Grayson County		0.00	1.49	0.00	33.48	0.00	23.46	0.00	14.60	23.24	71.59	172.61
Virginia		68.86	101.39	56.44	194.73	135.43	158.05	103.54	129.44	148.36	112.31	106.63
National		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
Surry County		5.37	5.09	3.62	6.52	30.29	0.97	11.07	50.24	30.75	107.58	193.49
Washington County		7.96	12.43	1.60	7.00	1.99	14.54	11.97	5.16	39.09	68.11	204.58
Wythe County		8.69	0.00	44.32	0.00	7.60	19.12	0.74	11.83	3.77	70.45	192.27
Carroll County		0.26	0.00	10.29	0.76	5.48	3.85	3.55	21.81	41.66	73.16	174.20
Smyth County		5.00	0.00	1.48	1.52	0.00	1.72	2.15	57.35	28.61	66.45	221.10
Ashe County		1.66	8.21	6.24	1.60	32.96	0.45	0.00	26.14	0.00	62.98	155.27
Johnson County		0.00	8.53	0.00	10.71	0.00	0.34	1.12	8.95	5.70	66.87	205.28
Alleghany County		0.00	31.58	0.00	0.00	0.00	7.08	1.81	0.00	0.00	95.10	155.75
Galax city		0.00	18.59	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	91.03	0.00	107.17	154.80

Sources: STI: PopStats, Circa April 2025

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