Epidemiologic data on neuronal surface antibody (NSAb)-associated autoimmune encephalitides (NSAE) are scarce and heterogeneous. We review our 13-year-long biobank-data collection and provide the incidence of NSAE in two Italian provinces (approx. Population of 1,400,000) over a 5-year period (July 2013–June 2018). NSAbs were diagnosed in 75 out of 1179 tested patients (6.4%). The most common NSAbs were anti-LGI1 (30 cases), followed by NMDAR (24). Eleven cases of NSAE were diagnosed in Treviso and Trento provinces with an estimated incidence of 1.54 per 1,000,000 population (LGI1-encephalitis 0.84; C.I. 0.38–1.88). LGI1-E is the most frequent NSAE among adults. [Display omitted] • Neuronal surface antibody-associated encephalitides (NSAE) could be underrecognized. • Published epidemiologic data and diagnostics are few and heterogeneous. • NSAE are rare but increasingly recognized. • LGI1-Ab is the most common neuronal antibody in suspected autoimmune encephalitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]