Where does “Эжва” come from?

Эжва (Komi-Zyrian) comes from Komi-Zyrian эжа, from Latvian eža, from Proto-Balto-Slavic ež-i̯ā-, from Proto-Indo-European h₁eǵʰ- — balk, border; edge, border.

Ancestry of “Эжва”, step by step

Эжва traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Komi-Zyrian эжа

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Komi-Zyrianэжаturf
2Latvianežagenitive singular form of ezis; balk;...
3Proto-Balto-Slavicež-i̯ā-—
4Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁eǵʰ-balk, border; edge, border

via Komi-Zyrian ва

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Komi-Zyrianваwater
2Proto-Permicvad—
3Proto-Uralicwetewater
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁eǵʰ- →Every word from Proto-Balto-Slavic ež-i̯ā- →Every word from Latvian eža →