Nickell

Nickell is a surname of English origin, likely derived from the given name Nicholas and related to the surnames Nichols and Nicholl. It may have arisen as a patronymic or diminutive form in medieval England and subsequently spread to other English-speaking regions.

Variant spellings include Nichols, Nicholl, Nicholls, and Nickell itself occurs in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and other countries with historical English influence.

Notable people with the surname include Joe Nickell (born 1944), an American paranormal investigator and skeptic. He has been a long-time contributor to the scientific skepticism movement and is associated with the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. His work includes field investigations and analysis of extraordinary claims, and he has authored or co-authored books and articles on the subject.