diff --git a/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/sources/base.py b/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/sources/base.py
index d9144fdf34..f322fcdb56 100644
--- a/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/sources/base.py
+++ b/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/sources/base.py
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ msprefs.defaults['ignore_fields'] = []
 msprefs.defaults['max_tags'] = 20
 msprefs.defaults['wait_after_first_identify_result'] = 30 # seconds
 msprefs.defaults['wait_after_first_cover_result'] = 60 # seconds
+msprefs.defaults['swap_author_names'] = False
 
 # Google covers are often poor quality (scans/errors) but they have high
 # resolution, so they trump covers from better sources. So make sure they
diff --git a/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/sources/identify.py b/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/sources/identify.py
index 170ceb6c7a..87c1e9a644 100644
--- a/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/sources/identify.py
+++ b/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/sources/identify.py
@@ -365,6 +365,18 @@ def identify(log, abort, # {{{
     for r in results:
         r.tags = r.tags[:max_tags]
 
+    if msprefs['swap_author_names']:
+        for r in results:
+            def swap_to_ln_fn(a):
+                if ',' in a:
+                    return a
+                parts = a.split(None)
+                if len(parts) <= 1:
+                    return a
+                surname = parts[-1]
+                return '%s, %s' % (surname, ' '.join(parts[:-1]))
+            r.authors = [swap_to_ln_fn(a) for a in r.authors]
+
     return results
 # }}}
 
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/metadata_sources.py b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/metadata_sources.py
index 17a70bcc33..9f2c441054 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/metadata_sources.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/metadata_sources.py
@@ -258,6 +258,7 @@ class ConfigWidget(ConfigWidgetBase, Ui_Form):
         r('max_tags', msprefs)
         r('wait_after_first_identify_result', msprefs)
         r('wait_after_first_cover_result', msprefs)
+        r('swap_author_names', msprefs)
 
         self.configure_plugin_button.clicked.connect(self.configure_plugin)
         self.sources_model = SourcesModel(self)
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/metadata_sources.ui b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/metadata_sources.ui
index b515f13ba1..37797eda5a 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/metadata_sources.ui
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/metadata_sources.ui
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
     <widget class="QStackedWidget" name="stack">
      <widget class="QWidget" name="page">
       <layout class="QGridLayout" name="gridLayout">
-       <item row="0" column="0" rowspan="5">
+       <item row="0" column="0" rowspan="6">
         <widget class="QGroupBox" name="groupBox">
          <property name="title">
           <string>Metadata sources</string>
@@ -98,7 +98,14 @@
          </property>
         </widget>
        </item>
-       <item row="2" column="1">
+       <item row="2" column="1" colspan="2">
+        <widget class="QCheckBox" name="opt_swap_author_names">
+         <property name="text">
+          <string>Swap author names from FN LN to LN, FN</string>
+         </property>
+        </widget>
+       </item>
+       <item row="3" column="1">
         <widget class="QLabel" name="label_2">
          <property name="text">
           <string>Max. number of &amp;tags to download:</string>
@@ -108,10 +115,10 @@
          </property>
         </widget>
        </item>
-       <item row="2" column="2">
+       <item row="3" column="2">
         <widget class="QSpinBox" name="opt_max_tags"/>
        </item>
-       <item row="3" column="1">
+       <item row="4" column="1">
         <widget class="QLabel" name="label_3">
          <property name="text">
           <string>Max. &amp;time to wait after first match is found:</string>
@@ -121,14 +128,14 @@
          </property>
         </widget>
        </item>
-       <item row="3" column="2">
+       <item row="4" column="2">
         <widget class="QSpinBox" name="opt_wait_after_first_identify_result">
          <property name="suffix">
           <string> secs</string>
          </property>
         </widget>
        </item>
-       <item row="4" column="1">
+       <item row="5" column="1">
         <widget class="QLabel" name="label_4">
          <property name="text">
           <string>Max. time to wait after first &amp;cover is found:</string>
@@ -138,7 +145,7 @@
          </property>
         </widget>
        </item>
-       <item row="4" column="2">
+       <item row="5" column="2">
         <widget class="QSpinBox" name="opt_wait_after_first_cover_result">
          <property name="suffix">
           <string> secs</string>