Although Donnchad kept the title and most of the territory, Thomas and his family received much of the lowland part of the earldom in compensation.
"Thomas, son of Malcolm of Lunden" who gave the church of Echt (and its revenues) to "God, St. Mary, St Michael and all Saints and to the Abbot and Convent of Scona" at some time between 1214 and 1227.
"Scona" is Scone, where the Kings of Scots were crowned at that time, so it was arguably the most prestigious abbey in Scotland, which would confirm that Thomas had influential connections.
Thomas de Lundin, became Door-ward or Usher to King William the Lion, and was granted large estates in Aberdeenshire.
Thomas de Lundin subsequently claimed the earldom without success, but was allocated a large part of its territory.