Switching First and Last Names 

of a List in Word

Here is a List of a few of Illinois First Governors

Select the Names you want to switch:

Open Replace under the Home tab editing and select "Use Wild cards"

Type in Find What (<*>) (<*>)

And in Replace With  \2, \1

Be sure to include the space in the Find and Replace lines

Hit Replace all and list now looks like this with Last name now first:

To now Alphabetize by last name Select the names Then on the Paragraph section of the home tab Select the Sort Button

A Screen will pop up to select how to sort:

Sort by Paragraph and the type is Text
Hit OK and the result is an Alphabetized  by last name list