Aveland was a Wapentake of Kesteven from the time of the Danelaw until the Local Government Act 1888.

[1] Aveland was probably established as an administrative unit soon after 921 when Edward the Elder ably assisted until 918, by Æthelflæd had restored English rule in the part of the Danelaw represented by Kesteven.

The wapentake included the ancient parishes of Aslackby, Billingborough, Birthorpe, Bourne, Dembleby, Dowsby, Dunsby, Folkingham, Haconby, Haceby, Horbling, Kirkby Underwood, Laughton, Morton, Newton, Osbournby, Pickworth, Pointon, Rippingale, Sempringham, Spanby, Swaton, Threekingham and Walcot;[2] some of which have since been amalgamated.

There is documentary evidence from the Domesday survey onwards for a settlement called Avethorpe in the parish of Aslackby but no actual location is known.

The Kesteven people supported it so that, when order was restored, the shire of Lincoln was set up and given powers over the wapentakes.