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Pierce 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:

10.66

Most common ancestry not including "Unknown" is:

German

 
Ancestry Report Part I
DescriptionTotal Population American Native American Hawaiian Carribean Mexican Central American South American Other Hispanic British Dutch French German Italian

Pierce County938,65327,7029,28417,66214,17376,9226,9623,94510,10156,3046,23612,94683,28818,722
Washington (in 000's)7,90323887615981665398752172109681138
National (in 000's)340,98116,5892,16560710,91237,9175,6004,1394,87718,3212,0964,23427,00610,025
King County2,296,35841,99811,72119,08014,765159,51924,35117,44521,671131,17914,07226,841149,07039,397
Thurston County302,0969,7913,4913,1083,69818,7202,4811,2543,31722,6982,9464,59530,8235,740
Kitsap County280,2839,6803,2952,6752,71114,8322,0059673,44623,1272,7364,99628,6955,819
Yakima County258,8885,3628,701254930121,7061,8684875,3578,1801,5502,37912,9471,452
Lewis County86,4404,2299221436527,2303892847117,8531,0061,59110,2141,230
Mason County68,6302,6331,9402073044,2552,2771206675,5048091,1737,3551,354
 
Per Cent to Total PopulationDiversity
Index
 

Pierce County10.662.950.991.881.518.190.740.421.086.000.661.388.871.99
Washington9.653.011.100.770.7510.330.820.501.106.600.911.388.611.75
National10.644.870.640.183.2011.121.641.211.435.370.611.247.922.94
King County9.241.830.510.830.646.951.060.760.945.710.611.176.491.72
Thurston County10.343.241.161.031.226.200.820.421.107.510.981.5210.201.90
Kitsap County10.023.451.180.950.975.290.720.351.238.250.981.7810.242.08
Yakima County26.502.073.360.100.3647.010.720.192.073.160.600.925.000.56
Lewis County11.494.891.070.170.758.360.450.330.829.081.161.8411.821.42
Mason County10.593.842.830.300.446.203.320.170.978.021.181.7110.721.97
 
Comparisons to State Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Pierce County 98.1489.64245.38200.9379.3390.7984.6297.9490.9272.88100.20103.04114.07
Washington 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00
National 161.7957.5523.20425.84107.64201.03244.41130.1781.4467.4390.2291.97168.14
King County 60.8246.26108.3685.5667.24129.81152.9685.8986.5967.2284.9275.3998.12
Thurston County 107.78104.73134.17162.8959.98100.5383.5899.93113.89106.98110.51118.49108.66
Kitsap County 114.85106.54124.46128.7151.2287.5769.47111.90125.07107.08129.50118.89118.73
Yakima County 68.88304.5812.7947.80455.0788.3337.88188.3247.8965.6866.7658.0832.08
Lewis County 162.7096.6621.57100.3780.9755.0966.1574.86137.71127.67133.72137.2281.38
Mason County 127.58256.1839.3358.9460.02406.1335.2188.45121.56129.31124.17124.45112.83
 
Comparisons to National Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Pierce County 60.66155.761,057.8347.1873.7045.1634.6275.24111.64108.08111.06112.0367.84
Washington 61.81173.77431.0923.4892.9049.7440.9176.82122.79148.30110.84108.7359.48
National 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00
King County 37.5980.38467.1120.0962.4764.5762.5865.98106.3299.6994.1281.9658.35
Thurston County 66.62181.98578.3938.2555.7350.0134.2076.77139.84158.65122.48128.8364.63
Kitsap County 70.99185.13536.5530.2247.5943.5628.4285.96153.57158.80143.54129.2770.62
Yakima County 42.57529.2855.1611.23422.7643.9415.50144.6758.8197.4074.0063.1419.08
Lewis County 100.56167.9793.0023.5775.2227.4027.0757.51169.09189.33148.22149.2048.40
Mason County 78.86445.16169.5713.8455.75202.0314.4067.95149.26191.77137.63135.3167.11
 
Ancestry Report Part II
DescriptionTotal Population Polish Scandi­navian Scotish Irish Other European Chinese Japanese Korean South Central Asian South East Asian Other Asian Middle Eastern Other Ancestry Unknown

Pierce County938,6538,15054,62866,88939,6124,2174,25314,2523,89630,0434,9683,021196,955163,522
Washington (in 000's)7,90367458563356160437915624449431,5031,210
National (in 000's)340,9815,2116,56222,89210,8864,3408331,7585,3296,0541,4412,14472,84556,198
King County2,296,35821,215113,555135,827118,139124,82526,15636,311110,841126,77627,17622,655508,961252,812
Thurston County302,0963,46018,43826,89611,7451,6288673,3361,2488,7221,4931,22256,42053,959
Kitsap County280,2832,88420,10326,76415,0191,0471,1911,2975988,76672160250,96245,345
Yakima County258,8884015,3898,2434,0682221344033801,33330923844,11522,480
Lewis County86,4409985,9487,7522,91712049159261204738512,83218,588
Mason County68,6304924,8677,1882,4926668147126272872911,28312,915
 
Per Cent to Total PopulationDiversity
Index
 

Pierce County10.660.875.827.134.220.450.451.520.423.200.530.3220.9817.42
Washington9.650.855.807.134.502.020.541.001.973.090.610.5419.0215.31
National10.641.531.926.713.191.270.240.521.561.780.420.6321.3616.48
King County9.240.924.955.915.145.441.141.584.835.521.180.9922.1611.01
Thurston County10.341.156.108.903.890.540.291.100.412.890.490.4018.6817.86
Kitsap County10.021.037.179.555.360.370.420.460.213.130.260.2118.1816.18
Yakima County26.500.152.083.181.570.090.050.160.150.510.120.0917.048.68
Lewis County11.491.156.888.973.370.140.060.180.300.240.080.1014.8421.50
Mason County10.590.727.0910.473.630.100.100.210.180.400.130.0416.4418.82
 
Comparisons to State Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Pierce County 102.31100.4299.9793.6822.2683.40151.9321.07103.5686.1159.68110.31113.80
Washington 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00
National 180.0733.2194.1870.8763.0544.9851.5979.3357.4568.77116.61112.31107.66
King County 108.8685.3382.98114.20269.28209.65158.23245.04178.62192.53182.95116.5271.91
Thurston County 134.95105.32124.9086.3126.7052.82110.5020.9793.4180.4075.0198.18116.67
Kitsap County 121.24123.76133.96118.9518.5078.2146.3010.83101.1941.8539.8395.59105.68
Yakima County 18.2535.9244.6734.884.259.5315.587.4516.6619.4217.0589.5856.72
Lewis County 136.04118.74125.8174.916.8810.4318.4115.337.6413.7418.2478.04140.47
Mason County 84.47122.37146.9380.614.7618.2421.439.3212.8220.627.8486.43122.92
 
Comparisons to National Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Pierce County 56.82302.43106.14132.1835.30185.39294.5326.56180.26125.2051.1898.22105.70
Washington 55.53301.16106.18141.10158.60222.30193.85126.05174.07145.4185.7589.0492.89
National 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00
King County 60.45256.9788.10161.14427.08466.05306.73308.87310.93279.95156.89103.7566.80
Thurston County 74.95317.17132.61121.7742.34117.43214.2126.44162.61116.9164.3387.42108.37
Kitsap County 67.33372.72142.23167.8429.35173.8689.7613.65176.1460.8534.1685.1198.16
Yakima County 10.14108.1747.4349.226.7421.1830.209.3929.0028.2314.6279.7652.69
Lewis County 75.55357.58133.58105.7010.9123.1935.6819.3213.2919.9815.6469.49130.48
Mason County 46.91368.53156.00113.737.5640.5441.5511.7522.3229.996.7276.96114.18


Sources: STI: PopStats