Solution:
Magento creates a dynamic header block in code and an unset or remove layout instruction doesn’t remove the block. In your local.xml, overwrite the block with an empty core/template block with the same name. i.e.
<!-- Hack fix to remove persistent '(Not Name?)' link top of page. --> <!-- unsetChild and remove actions do not work. --> <!-- Html generated here: app/code/core/Mage/Persistent/Block/Header/Additional.php --> <!-- Block created dynamically here: app/code/core/Mage/Persistent/Model/Observer.php see header.additional --> <block type="core/template" name="header.additional"/>