The first mormaer is usually regarded as Gille Críst (or Gilchrist), simply because he is the earliest on record.
[1] The title was held in a continuous line from Gille Críst until Muireadhach IV (a.k.a.
Murdoch Stewart, Duke of Albany), although the male line was broken on two occasions.
A truncated version of the earldom was given two years later to Malise Graham, 1st Earl of Menteith, in compensation for loss of the Earldom of Strathearn, which was a likely result of the execution of the Duke of Albany.
The Stuart-Menteth family traces its descent from Walter Comyn (third son of Walter Comyn, Justiciar of Scotia), who in 1258 married Isabella, Countess of Menteith (or Menteth).