The principal name is the name of the person at the center of the event. Most historical records contain just one principal name.
The chart shows common record types and the principal name for each one:
Record Type | Principal Person |
| Birth certificate | The name of the person who was born. |
| Marriage certificate | The names of both spouses. |
| Census | The name of the head of household. |
| Death certificate | The name of the person who died. |
| Obituary | The name of the person who died. |
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