[Jim McDougall]

As far as I know, the term fringia, or its variations, have never been considered to have represented a place, but most probably a term which does imply quality. This concept has been noted by the early arms writers, particularly DeCosson, as mentioned in discussions on Andrea Ferrara etc. It is suggested that rather than names of actual smiths, these terms possibly denoted type of sword i.e. Ferrara =broadsword ( typically the 'grosse schotten', Scottish broadswords), Sahagun, which seems to occur more on single edged blades.
Ariels suggestion of fringia being a corruption of the well established term 'feranghi' and applied to trade blades for export is most interesting and presents some great opportunity for discussion. It is my impression that the term feranghi was simply a colloquial term which arose in India with the Mahratta import of Portuguese blades. As he has noted in earlier posts, the term probably did apply more to straight rapier type blades. The term 'alemani' came later more to the south, where German and French weapons, especially sabres came in with those forces in the service of Hyder Ali (Tipu Sultans father). Therefore that term became associated with curved sabre blades, typically of German origin.

With regard to trade blades of Styria, these indeed were exported widely, but as far as to the Orient, I am only aware of those which went to the Caucasian regions (which I believe is included with use of that term). Styria was of course part of Austria (Graz was key) and did adopt use of markings in the manner of Solingen's marketing strategies.

The term feranghi is believed to have even more specifically meant Portuguese, and became more broadly applied later with colloquial use and transliteration. It was as far as I know never applied by stamp or inscription on a blade, and the FRINGIA term on blades seems to have been isolated to blades from the Eastern European regions. Since it does seem to have been applied congruent to the familiar 'sickle marks' (as noted by Sir James Mann in his work on the Wallace Collection) it likely did occur on many trade blades, and probably did appear on some that appeared in India, though it seems doubtful that the term would have had particular meaning literally. Typically illiteracy rendered wording on blades relatively ineffective compared to the use of easily recognized markings or symbols on trade blades in native regions.

As noted earlier, the FRINGIA term is yet another mystery that goes well with those of the trademarks, symbols and names of early makers, as discussed in that thread.