gistfile1.py

        def parse_name(name):
            #delete (nicknames)
            name = re.sub("\(.*?\)", "", name)

            names = name.split(" ")

            first_name = names[0]
            if len(names) > 2:
                middle_names = [names[1]]
                for i, n in enumerate(names[2:]):
                    if re.search("\w\.$", n.strip()):
                        middle_names.append(n)
                    else: break
                middle_name = " ".join(middle_names)
                last_name = " ".join(names[i+2:])
            else:
                middle_name = ""
                last_name = names[1]

            #steal jr.s or sr.s
            suffix = re.findall(", (\w*?)\.", last_name) or ""
            if suffix:
                suffix = suffix[0]
                last_name = re.sub(", \w*?\.", "", last_name)

            return (first_name, middle_name, last_name, suffix)