diff --git a/geocoder/admin1/sql/build_admin1_synonyms.sql b/geocoder/admin1/sql/build_admin1_synonyms.sql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c931013
--- /dev/null
+++ b/geocoder/admin1/sql/build_admin1_synonyms.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+---- ADMIN1 SYNONYM TABLE BUILD -----
+-------------------------------------
+--- synonyms table, each row gets a rank, isoCode, id, 
+--- use the following fields from quattro shapes admin1: name, name_code
+--- TO DO: add more synonyms from external sources later
+
+--- clear the table
+DELETE FROM admin1_synonyms_qs;
+
+--- add admin1 name from qs_adm1 countries that don't have regions
+INSERT INTO admin1_synonyms_qs(name, rank, adm0_a3, global_id)
+SELECT
+    qs_a1, 0, qs_adm0_a3, global_id
+FROM
+    qs_adm1
+WHERE
+    qs_adm0 NOT IN ('Belgium', 'Finland', 'France', 'Hungary', 'Italy', 'Serbia', 'Spain', 'United Kingdom');
+
+--- add province code from qs_adm1 countries that don't have regions
+INSERT INTO admin1_synonyms_qs(name, rank, adm0_a3, global_id)
+SELECT
+    qs_a1_lc, 1, qs_adm0_a3, global_id
+FROM
+    qs_adm1
+WHERE
+    qs_adm0 NOT IN ('Belgium', 'Finland', 'France', 'Hungary', 'Italy', 'Serbia', 'Spain', 'United Kingdom');
+
+--- add admin1 name from qs_adm1_region
+INSERT INTO admin1_synonyms_qs(name, rank, adm0_a3, global_id)
+SELECT
+    qs_a1, 0, qs_adm0_a3, global_id
+FROM
+    qs_adm1_region;
+
+--- add province code from qs_adm1_region
+INSERT INTO admin1_synonyms_qs(name, rank, adm0_a3, global_id)
+SELECT
+    qs_a1_lc, 1, qs_adm0_a3, global_id
+FROM
+    qs_adm1_regions;
+
+--- TO DO: add external synonyms
\ No newline at end of file