Selkirk is a town and also historic royal burgh in the Scottish Borders Council district of southeastern Scotland. It rests on the Ettrick Water, a tributary of the River Tweed. The people of the community are known as Souters, which suggests cobblers (shoe manufacturers and healers). At the time of the 2011 census, Selkirk's population was 5,784. Selkirk was formerly the county town of Selkirkshire. Selkirk is just one of the oldest Royal Burghs in Scotland and also is the site of the earliest settlements in what is currently the Scottish Borders. The community's name suggests "church by the hall" from the Old English sele ("hall" or "manor") and also cirice ("church").