We have studied the effect of the mesogenic core of nematic liquid crystals (NLCs) for polar (out-of-plane tilt) anchoring strength and surface order parameter on rubbed polyimide (PI) surfaces. The order of polar anchoring strength for NLCs on rubbed PI surfaces is 5CB > PCH5 > CCH5. From the above results, we suggest that the polar anchoring strength depends on the polarizability of the NLCs. The surface order parameter for NLCs is 5CB > PCH5 > CCH5 on rubbed PI surfaces. We conclude that the polar anchoring strength is strongly related to the surface order parameter on rubbed PI surfaces.