diff --git a/gramps/gen/lib/name.py b/gramps/gen/lib/name.py
index 6a6d0791b..ec8e6379a 100644
--- a/gramps/gen/lib/name.py
+++ b/gramps/gen/lib/name.py
@@ -43,6 +43,9 @@ from .date import Date
 from ..const import GRAMPS_LOCALE as glocale
 _ = glocale.translation.gettext
 
+# table for skipping illegal control chars
+INVISIBLE = dict.fromkeys(list(range(32)))
+
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #
 # Personal Name
@@ -379,7 +382,7 @@ class Name(SecondaryObject, PrivacyBase, SurnameBase, CitationBase, NoteBase,
         The call name's exact definition is not predetermined, and may be
         locale specific.
         """
-        self.call = val
+        self.call = val.translate(INVISIBLE).strip()
 
     def get_nick_name(self):
         """
@@ -397,7 +400,7 @@ class Name(SecondaryObject, PrivacyBase, SurnameBase, CitationBase, NoteBase,
         The nick name of the person, a not official name the person is known
         with.
         """
-        self.nick = val
+        self.nick = val.translate(INVISIBLE).strip()
 
     def get_family_nick_name(self):
         """
@@ -415,7 +418,7 @@ class Name(SecondaryObject, PrivacyBase, SurnameBase, CitationBase, NoteBase,
         The family nick name of the family of the person, a not official name
         use to denote the entire family.
         """
-        self.famnick = val
+        self.famnick = val.translate(INVISIBLE).strip()
 
     def set_type(self, the_type):
         """Set the type of the Name instance."""
@@ -427,7 +430,7 @@ class Name(SecondaryObject, PrivacyBase, SurnameBase, CitationBase, NoteBase,
 
     def set_first_name(self, name):
         """Set the given name for the Name instance."""
-        self.first_name = name
+        self.first_name = name.translate(INVISIBLE).strip()
 
     def get_first_name(self):
         """Return the given name for the Name instance."""
@@ -435,7 +438,7 @@ class Name(SecondaryObject, PrivacyBase, SurnameBase, CitationBase, NoteBase,
 
     def set_suffix(self, name):
         """Set the suffix (such as Jr., III, etc.) for the Name instance."""
-        self.suffix = name
+        self.suffix = name.translate(INVISIBLE).strip()
 
     def get_suffix(self):
         """Return the suffix for the Name instance."""
@@ -443,7 +446,7 @@ class Name(SecondaryObject, PrivacyBase, SurnameBase, CitationBase, NoteBase,
 
     def set_title(self, title):
         """Set the title (Dr., Reverand, Captain) for the Name instance."""
-        self.title = title
+        self.title = title.translate(INVISIBLE).strip()
 
     def get_title(self):
         """Return the title for the Name instance."""
diff --git a/gramps/gen/lib/surname.py b/gramps/gen/lib/surname.py
index ad45dff70..aa11cbfbf 100644
--- a/gramps/gen/lib/surname.py
+++ b/gramps/gen/lib/surname.py
@@ -35,6 +35,9 @@ from .const import IDENTICAL, EQUAL, DIFFERENT
 from ..const import GRAMPS_LOCALE as glocale
 _ = glocale.translation.gettext
 
+# table for skipping illegal control chars
+INVISIBLE = dict.fromkeys(list(range(32)))
+
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #
 # Personal Name
@@ -171,7 +174,7 @@ class Surname(SecondaryObject):
 
         The surname is one of the not given names coming from the parents
         """
-        self.surname = val
+        self.surname = val.translate(INVISIBLE).strip()
 
     def get_prefix(self):
         """
@@ -187,7 +190,7 @@ class Surname(SecondaryObject):
 
         Examples of articles would be 'de' or 'van'.
         """
-        self.prefix = val
+        self.prefix = val.translate(INVISIBLE).strip()
 
     def set_origintype(self, the_type):
         """Set the origin type of the Surname instance."""