Junkers (English pronunciation: [ˈjʊŋk ə]; German pronunciation: [ˈjʊŋ kɐ]) were the laned nobility of Prussia and eastern Germany. These families were mostly part of the German Uradel (very old feudal nobility) and carried on the colonization and Christianization of the northeastern European territories during the medieval Ostsiedlung. Today "Junker" is often used as a predicate for untitled German nobility. The abbreviation of Junker is Jkr. and is most often placed before the given name and academic titles, for example: Jkr. Heinrich von Hohenberg. The female equivalent Junkfrau (Jkfr.) is only being used sporadically. In the past the predicate was also used for Barons and Counts.