diff --git a/gramps/gen/simple/_simpleaccess.py b/gramps/gen/simple/_simpleaccess.py
index 95db7c293..49699ecfc 100644
--- a/gramps/gen/simple/_simpleaccess.py
+++ b/gramps/gen/simple/_simpleaccess.py
@@ -785,7 +785,8 @@ class SimpleAccess(object):
         """
         
         with self.dbase.get_person_cursor() as cursor:
-            slist = sorted((data[3][3], key) for key, data in cursor)
+            # data[3] is primary_name; data[3][5][0][0] is surname
+            slist = sorted((data[3][5][0][0], key) for key, data in cursor)
 
         for info in slist:
             obj = self.dbase.get_person_from_handle(info[1])