Shy Toddler

So yesterday we went to a family member’s birthday party and as soon as we got there and were greeted by my brother in law, my DS immediately goes into his shy mode closing his eyes and makes a funny face. Then once we were inside there was quite a few people already there (no-one we knew) and I noticed he wasn’t comfortable. After we were there awhile and he was playing with toys in playroom but my partner had to be with him the whole time. I think my partner disappeared for a second and DS found himself in the hallway with a bunch of strangers talking loudly, one of the guests started talking to my DS to which he bursts out crying 😢 Is this normal? Is there anything I can do to help my DS be more confident and outgoing? Just getting abit worried now as he’s very shy at such a young age, he won’t even look at a stranger in the eyes. I was quite shy as a child and partner also so maybe he’s inherited this? 😖 do kids inherit personality?